Student's suicide: Relatives picket school near Erode, seek teacher's arrest

ERODE: Parents and relatives of a Plus-2 girl student, who committed suicide few days ago, picketed a Government Higher Secondary school on here Friday for demanding the arrest of the school teacher allegedly responsible for the girl's suicide. Police said on Friday that Devayani, 17, daughter of a lorry driver Sekar hailing from Peranda Alli Kothur in Krishnagiri district, was pursuing her higher secondary education staying with her grandparents at Gopaliparai near Arachalur in Erode district. Recently, she attempted to commit suicide by consuming poison and was admitted at a private hospital by neighbours.

The girl was later sent to Salem government hospital, where she died without responding to treatment late on October 17 evening, sources said. Even as she was battling for her life, the girl had told her parents that one of her teachers, Selvalakshmi, had scolded and beat her few days earlier, which was what drove her to this extreme step. Based on the girl's statement, Arachalur police had booked the woman teacher under section 305 of IPC and have begun investigations, sources said, adding, the teacher had absconded since the incident came to light on Wednesday. Angered over the delay in arresting the teacher, large number people including parents and relatives of the victim besieged the school on Friday and demanded her arrest immediately. They blocked the Erode-Kangayam road squatting in front of the school. The RDO Ms. Narmadadevi and police officials rushed to spot and held talks with agitators. Following their assurance to take immediate action on their demand, they gave up the protest and dispersed.