Coimbatore police investigate alleged harassment after student’s death

A 16-year-old student died by suicide in Coimbatore on October 21, and police are investigating allegations that he faced caste-based harassment at school over his food choices. Two classmates were arrested on October 23, while school staff also faced action as the investigation continued. The student, A. Akilan, was in Class XI and belonged to a Scheduled Caste community. His mother’s police complaint alleged that classmates taunted and isolated him after learning about his caste and that he was eating beef. She also alleged that a teacher had questioned students about their food choices and that school staff failed to intervene effectively. Police said the two classmates were arrested after investigators found they had subjected Akilan to caste-based harassment. They were produced before the Juvenile Justice Board and sent to a juvenile observation home. Police said Akilan left no suicide note and that investigators were examining the allegations against the classmates, teacher and headmaster. The school management suspended headmaster Arunkumar S. and teacher P. Vijayakumar on October 22, saying the action was taken to facilitate a fair inquiry into alleged caste-related...