Coimbatore Dalit student death: Police book four under SC/ST Act as official probe opens

Police in Tamil Nadu have booked four people, including a school headmaster and a class teacher, under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act following the suicide of a 16-year-old student in Coimbatore.

The student, identified as A Akilan, a Class XI pupil at Shri K K Naidu Higher Secondary School on Avinashi Road, was found dead at his home in Peelamedu on Wednesday, 21 October. Following a complaint filed by his mother, Kousalya Devi, the Peelamedu police registered cases against class teacher Vijayakumar, headmaster Arun Kumar, and two classmates.

Official action and legal charges

Law enforcement authorities moved quickly to invoke statutory protections under the SC/ST Act alongside provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) covering abetment of suicide and voluntarily causing hurt.

According to police filings, the complaint alleges that harassment began during a classroom enrollment process for a scholarship scheme, when students were asked about their food choices. The boy's family stated that subsequent bullying by classmates was brought to the attention of school authorities.

Investigations underway

Deputy Commissioner of Police Thangadurai confirmed that an official inquiry is actively proceeding at the commissionerate level. State monitoring bodies have also intervened to ensure a complete and transparent review.

The Child Welfare Committee has commenced an inquiry into the matter, while the Tamil Nadu State Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes has issued a formal notice to the Coimbatore Police Commissioner requesting a comprehensive report. Law enforcement officials emphasized that procedural investigations and statutory inquiries are being fully carried out to maintain legal standards and institutional accountability.