Scolded by teacher for standing up for her mother, Tamil Nadu teen dies by suicide

On a regular day, a student dropped out of school due to a desire for a different education path. This girl and her mother sought admission at another school, but an altercation ensued. The young girl, visibly distressed, walked five kilometers home that evening. The following night, the 16-year-old P Nijanthi died by suicide. The victim, from Thottappanayakkanur near Usilampatti in Madurai district of Tamil Nadu, had completed Class 10 at her village and entered Government Kallar Higher Secondary School in Poochipatti for Class 11.

However, she did not wish to continue there. After attending for about 20 days, she stopped going to school. Her mother, P Thavamani, later told police that her daughter expressed a preference for a nursing-related curriculum instead of the Science Group she was assigned. She stayed at home for about a month before informing her mother that she would study seriously, provided admission to another school was granted.

On August 24, Thavamani took Nijanthi to a school in Usilampatti, where they were informed of an admission fee of Rs 5,000. Unable to pay the amount at that time, Thavamani promised to return in two days. While waiting at an old bus stand, a neighbor suggested trying the Government Model Higher Secondary School in Usilampatti, which might have a lower admission fee.

The family visited the new school on the same day. The incident at the headmistress's office became the focal point of a criminal case. According to Thavamani's complaint, the headmistress questioned Nijanthi about her previous school and telephoned the head of her previous institution. When the head of the previous school was identified as a former teacher, he described Nijanthi as disciplined and academically proficient.

Thavamani observed Nijanthi standing with her hands folded, a customary gesture of respect in many formal settings. However, the headmistress objected to this gesture, allegedly accusing Nijanthi of arrogance and suggesting that she had behaved similarly in the past, possibly leading to her expulsion from her previous school. She then allegedly ordered Nijanthi to leave the room.

Distraught, Nijanthi ran home, walking approximately five kilometers to reach her village. Her mother found her along the road and brought her back home in a rickshaw. That night, Nijanthi did not eat and remained distressed. The next day, August 25, Thavamani went to work and returned home to discover Nijanthi's locked bedroom door.

Upon knocking, a neighbor broke open the door and discovered Nijanthi dead inside. Police registered a case under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita for an unnatural death and later booked the headmistress, Vimala Devi, under Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for alleged abetment of suicide. The investigation later expanded to include provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act due to Nijanthi being a Dalit student.