In Chhattisgarh, principals sexual harassment drives 15-year-old girl to suicide in school
The student of Class 9 allegedly used a saree to hang herself on Sunday evening, and the principal has been arrested following the incident. Police have reportedly found a suicide note at the spot, in which the girl had accused the principal of the school, Kuldipan Topno, of sexually harassing her.
New Delhi: In yet another incident of student suicide, a 15-year-old girl has reportedly hanged herself in a private school's study room. The incident took place in Chhattisgarh's Jashpur district, and the student had accused the principal of molesting and sexually harassing her.
The student of Class 9 allegedly used a saree to hang herself on Sunday evening, and the principal has been arrested following the incident. The victim used to live in Surguja's Sitapur area, and the school is located in a village under the Bagicha police station limits.
Accusation of molestation and sexual harassment
Police have reportedly found a suicide note at the spot, in which the girl had accused the principal of the school, Kuldipan Topno, of sexually harassing her. The principal has been arrested based on the accusation, and a case has been registered against him. A magisterial inquiry has been ordered into the case.
As per preliminary findings, there was no authorisation for the hostel on the school campus. Assistant Commissioner of the Tribal Department, Sanjay Singh, has reportedly said, "Of the 124 students enrolled from classes 6 to 12 in the school, a total of 22 boys and 11 girls were staying in the hostel, which was allegedly being operated without mandatory permissions. All relevant documents have been seized."
Recently, a 13-year-old Class 8 student died by suicide after jumping from the third floor of a reputed private school in Maharashtra's Jalna district. The student’s father has levelled serious allegations against the school, claiming that continuous mental harassment by teachers drove his daughter to take the extreme step. "My daughter was being mentally tortured. The teachers’ behaviour pushed her into despair. We want strict action and justice,” he said. On the other hand, a Class 10 student of a private school in Delhi has died by suicide at a metro station, with the family alleging prolonged mental harassment by staff members.
Disclaimer: If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, please seek help from a local mental health professional or helpline immediately. For support, call the iCall helpline at 9152987821.