Malappuram: The untimely death of a 14-year-old student, allegedly by suicide, has sent shockwaves through the Perinthalmanna region of Malappuram, leading to intense protests against a local private school. The family of the deceased, Thejas P, a Class 8 student of Presentation English Medium School, has accused the school authorities of mental and physical harassment, citing a dispute over a Transfer Certificate (TC) as the primary trigger for the tragedy.
Thejas was found dead at his residence in Chirattamanna on May 2. Following the incident, his father, Harish, filed a formal complaint with the District Police Chief, seeking a thorough investigation into the conduct of the school’s headmistress and teaching staff.
Allegations of Targeted Harassment
According to the complaint, the teenager was subjected to a series of disciplinary actions and emotional distress. The family alleges that after expressing their intent to transfer Thejas to another school in November last year, the staff’s attitude toward the boy turned hostile.
The complaint details specific instances of alleged mistreatment, including an incident where the student was reportedly forced to kneel for an entire class period. Furthermore, the father alleged that a teacher twisted the boy’s ear so severely that it resulted in an infected wound.
“The class teacher allegedly humiliated my son, threatening him that he would not be allowed to study anywhere else and would be failed in the Moral Science examination,” the complaint stated. The family further claimed that school officials threatened to place a ‘red mark’ on his TC, a move they believe was intended to tarnish his academic future.
Rising Tensions and Protests
The incident has ignited a political firestorm in the district. On Friday, several student organizations, including the Students Federation of India (SFI) and the Muslim Students Federation (MSF), took to the streets, marching toward the school premises. The protesters demanded the immediate arrest of the staff members named in the complaint and accused the Perinthalmanna Police of failing to invoke stringent legal provisions in the initial stages of the probe.
School Authorities Refute Claims
In response to the mounting pressure, the management of Presentation English Medium School issued a press statement categorically denying all allegations of harassment. The school described the claims as “baseless,” asserting that Thejas was a bright student who had performed well in his examinations.
“The claim that he was forced to write a Moral Science examination for promotion is illogical, as no such requirement exists,” the statement read. The school management clarified that the TC was scheduled to be issued on May 2 as per standard procedure during the vacation period. They further noted that the student had not been in contact with the school since the annual exams in March and expressed their deep condolences to the bereaved family.
While the school maintains that the death occurred during the vacation while the student was at home, the police are currently investigating whether the alleged pressure regarding the TC and the reported classroom incidents played a role in the student’s decision to take the extreme step.
