‘Casteist slur, humiliation’: TN teacher booked after dalit teen dies by suicide

The deceased girl's mother claimed that her daughter was deeply distressed after the HM admonished her (AI image used for representational purpose only)MADURAI: A government school teacher in Usilampatti in this district has been booked for abetment after a Dalit girl seeking admission in the institution died by suicide due to alleged humiliation at the hands of the accused.The headmistress also allegedly used a casteist slur against the deceased, according to news agency PTI.Relatives of the 16-year-old girl have been protesting, demanding action against the headmistress of the Government Model Secondary School, who allegedly rebuked the girl and used a casteist slur against her after she asked her mother not to stand with folded hands in front of the headmistress.Madurai police, who initially registered a case of suicide after the teenager died by suicide on August 25 following the alleged humiliation by the school headmistress, have now altered the case to abetment and named the teacher as an accused, police said on Saturday.On August 24, the girl, accompanied by her mother, went to the Government Model Secondary School in Usilampatti seeking admission following hes decision to discontinue studies at her current school, in order to pursue nursing.During the interview, the girl noticed her mother standing with her hands folded in a submissive manner and gestured to her to change her posture, straightening her hands. The headmistress allegedly became irked by this, accused the student of being arrogant and made a casteist remark, it was alleged.She asked why "people like you" cannot keep their hands folded, and ordered them to leave. The following day, the girl died by hanging at her home, police said."The case of suicide (unnatural death) registered on August 25, was subsequently altered on August 28, invoking relevant sections under BNS to include charges of abetment of suicide and naming the HM in the FIR," a senior official said.In her complaint, the deceased girl's mother claimed that her daughter was deeply distressed after the HM admonished her and resorted to the extreme measure on August 25 after spending the night without food and in gloom.An official said police were in the process of retrieving the school’s CCTV footage and were coordinating with the District Child Welfare Committee and Education Department officials to determine whether provisions of the SC/ST Act could be invoked.(With agency inputs)