A tragic incident in Kozhikode has sparked widespread protests following the death of a Class VIII student from Presentation Higher Secondary School in Perinthalmanna. The parents of the deceased, Thejas P, have alleged that their son took the extreme step due to threats and harassment from teachers. Thejas, a resident of Pookode House, Cheerattamanna, was found dead at his residence on May 2 in a suspected suicide.
Police investigation and protests
On Friday, police recorded detailed statements from the parents after the boy's father filed a complaint with the district police chief. Student organizations such as SFI and MSF staged protest marches to the school, demanding action against those responsible. The investigation is being led by Perinthalmanna SHO Sumesh Sudhakaran, and the statement recording process lasted over two-and-a-half hours at the family's residence.
Parents' allegations
The father, Harish, lodged a complaint alleging that the school authorities denied his son a Transfer Certificate (TC) and that the headmistress and other teachers subjected the student to mental and physical harassment, ultimately driving him to suicide. Harish and his wife Jisha told reporters that the school authorities had mentally harassed their son after levying false allegations. The family decided to shift him to another school and requested a TC.
According to the parents, the school authorities stated that the student had failed in the moral science examination and needed to pass it before the TC could be issued. The parents argued that since their son had passed all general subjects and was being moved to a government school, a pass in the moral science exam was unnecessary. However, the school insisted, and Thejas rewrote the exam. The teachers allegedly threatened to put a 'red mark' on the TC, which would make it difficult for him to secure admission elsewhere.
On the night before the results were to be announced, Thejas was found hanging at home. Jisha also revealed that the school authorities had earlier told Thejas not to attend the Silver Jubilee celebrations of the school, which deeply pained him.
School's response
School authorities dismissed the allegations as baseless, claiming that the school had not denied the TC to the student. They stated that the parents were informed that the TC could be issued after May 2.
