Taunted for eating beef, Dalit student dies by suicide in TN - Police in Coimbatore arrested teacher of government-aided school and booked headmaster and two students for abetment of suicide after 16-year-old Dalit student died by suicide. His family alleged he had faced caste-based harassment that intensified after classroom discussion about eating beef.
According to mother's complaint, Vijayakumar had sought to identify Scheduled Caste students eligible for scholarship and student enrolled for benefit. The teacher subsequently asked which students ate beef, prompting student and several others to stand up, she alleged. After that episode, mother claimed, two classmates began harassing student over caste and food choices. She alleged that her son complained about harassment to Vijayakumar and headmaster, but neither intervened.
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After Class 11 student found dead at his home in Peelamedu on Wednesday, his mother alleged two classmates repeatedly targeted him with caste-based remarks, taunted over food habits and assaulted him.
The student had stayed away from school for several days before returning recently, according to family. On Wednesday morning, he left home around 8 am, telling his mother he was going to school. Police believe he subsequently returned home. Mother, who works as domestic worker, found him dead when she returned around lunchtime. He did not leave suicide note, police said. His father works at resort in Kerala. "He wanted to become an advocate," father told Tamil media, accusing school authorities and teacher of responsibility for son's death and demanding justice.
Relatives and family members gathered outside Peelamedu police station and protested, demanding arrests and thorough investigation. Police registered case under sections of BNS relating to abetment of suicide and voluntarily causing hurt, along with provisions of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Senior police officers and Child Welfare Committee investigating circumstances.
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The District Educational Officer also conducted inquiry at school Thursday. Preliminary inquiry found two Dalit teachers had voluntarily handling process of enrolling students for scholarships. It also noted mother had visited school October 8 to sign student's progress report but had not raised complaint at that time. That finding does not resolve family's allegations, which remain under police investigation.
Tamil Nadu State Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes has sought report from Coimbatore City Police Commissioner within a week.
Analytically, beef taunt shows how food becomes caste marker. In Tamil Nadu, which has strong anti-caste movement from Periyar, such incident shocks. For India, SC/ST Act exists but implementation weak teachers often ask caste for scholarships publicly, outing students. Need confidential process.
If 16-year-old dies over beef, it shows caste and food policing kills.
Tags: #DalitStudent #TamilNadu #Beef #Suicide #CasteHarassment #Coimbatore #SCSTAct #Vijayakumar #Education #FoodPolitics