The death of a Class VII student by suicide at Kattoor in Alappuzha has sparked protests. Prajith, 13, a student of Holy Family Visitation Public School here was found dead at his house on February 15.
The boy’s family said that he took the extreme step immediately after returning from school where he was allegedly beaten up and mentally harassed by teachers.
A complaint lodged by the boy’s father, A.P. Manoj, before Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, District Collector John V. Samuel and the police said that his son and a friend, the latter who was feeling unwell, left the classroom to drink water. “When a teacher reached the classroom and found the duo missing, an announcement was made using a microphone. Though the students immediately returned to the classroom, the teacher beat Prajith with a stick and chastised him. Later another teacher also scolded the child. I came to know about these details from other students,” said Mr. Manoj.
