Teacher blamed for abetting teen’s suicide, thrashed by public

A Class 11 student Arun Prasad (17), son of Shankar, a labourer of Vellore Abdullapuram, studying in the Poigai School committed suicide by hanging on Wednesday. When the aggrieved parents were going through the deceased’s school bag on Friday, they came across a letter written by Arun Prasad in which he blamed the school’s chemistry, mathematics and physical education teachers for his death. The letter reportedly stated that teachers resorted to caning instead of helping students understand the subject. 

With the letter in hand, nearly 100 relatives and friends of the victim barged into the school and soundly thrashed Kanappan, the mathematics teacher and locked up another teacher inside a classroom. In the melee, the school students numbering more than 1,000 also stayed away from the classes.

On receipt of information, Virinjipuram police rushed to the spot and held talks with the agitators who demanded action against those teachers responsible for Arun Prasad’s death. 

Vellore CEO S Mars, who visited the school, assured the assembled people that an enquiry would be held and action taken against the teachers if found responsible for Arun Prasad’s death. Due to the attack and protest, a day’s leave was granted to the school for Friday. 

The injured mathematics teacher was treated for injuries by the emergency staff of the 108 Ambulance which was summoned by the officials to the spot. Further investigations are continuing.