A 16-year-old Dalit student in India's Tamil Nadu state died by suicide after allegedly facing caste-based harassment and taunts from classmates over eating beef, according to reports by The Indian Express and The Telegraph.
The Class XI student died at his residence on Friday, following alleged harassment that his mother said had intensified over the past two months. The incident took place on October 21, according to the reports.
Police in Peelamedu, Coimbatore, registered cases against four people, including the school's principal, class teacher and two students, over the alleged harassment and abetment of suicide. The class teacher has been arrested.
According to the police, the teacher had asked students to disclose their caste backgrounds to identify Scheduled Caste students eligible for a scholarship programme. The teacher also asked about their food preferences, including whether they ate beef.
The boy and several other students reportedly disclosed that they belonged to Scheduled Castes and consumed beef. Days later, the boy allegedly became the target of bullying, social isolation and taunts from classmates.
In her complaint to police, the student's mother alleged that her son had repeatedly reported the harassment to the class teacher and school principal but that no action was taken. She said the continued humiliation and mental distress ultimately led to his death.
The mother had considered approaching the school herself but abandoned the idea because her son feared that doing so could further isolate him and make him a bigger target, according to the reports.
The four accused have been booked under provisions of India's Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to abetment of suicide and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
The Tamil Nadu State Commission for Adi Dravidar and Tribal Communities has sought a report from the Coimbatore City Police Commissioner on the student's death and the action taken against those responsible.
Speaking to reporters, the boy's father said his son had suffered casteist slurs and taunts over his food choices, causing severe mental distress. He said he had learnt that the school management had suspended the principal and teacher, but argued that suspension was insufficient and demanded their arrest.
Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Assembly Udhayanidhi Stalin called for the arrest of everyone responsible for the student's death and urged the state government to take immediate steps to prevent caste discrimination in schools.
Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) chief Thol Thirumavalavan also expressed shock and grief over the death, which he said was allegedly linked to caste atrocities.
Thirumavalavan said police had registered a case following a protest by the family and demanded action against all those responsible.
He also called on the state government to implement recommendations made by the Justice Chandru Commission on eliminating caste discrimination in schools.
The recommendations include special training for teachers on social justice and caste eradication, incorporating social justice into school curricula, and establishing a 'Social Justice Student Squad' in every school, following a model currently practised in Kerala.
"Therefore, we demand that this be implemented immediately," Thirumavalavan said in a statement.
VCK deputy general secretary S.S. Balaji also condemned the incident, saying caste-based atrocities in any form must be curbed.
"The government, particularly the law enforcement authorities, should take stringent action against those responsible for the student's death," Balaji told reporters.