KOLLAM: The death of a 19-year-old girl in her hostel room in Erode earlier this week has sparked widespread protests. It is alleged that the girl committed suicide after a prolonged harassment by a senior studen-t.
Geethika of Aswathy, Komalamkunnu, Punalur, was a first year student at a pharmacy college in Erode. Her relatives say a boy from Kundara used to keep after her despite repeated warnings. They allege the boy used to harass her even after her parents met him at his Kundara home and warned him against making further advances.
Her parents said the continued harassment drove her to take own life. On Monday, she returned to her hostel near the college. She did not attend the classes on the day and locked herself up in her room after informing her room-mates that she was unwell.
When they returned by 12 pm for their lunch they found the girl hanging from the ceiling. Though the hostel authorities rushed her to a nearby hospital, she was declared brought dead.
A wound was also found on her wrist through which her blood drained. Geethika’s body was cremated on the premises of her house here after the autopsy conducted in Erode.
The parents said they would approach higher authorities including the Chief Minister and the home minister seeking justice.
