A tragic incident in Akola, Maharashtra, has highlighted the grave consequences of student harassment. A 13-year-old schoolgirl from Gitanagar died by suicide on Friday evening, allegedly driven to the extreme step after being stalked and mentally harassed by a senior student from her own school.
The Unfolding of a Tragedy
The sequence of events began on Friday afternoon when the girl returned home from her private school. Finding no family members present at the time, she proceeded to a second-floor bedroom and locked the door from inside. When her family returned later, they grew alarmed after receiving no response despite repeated knocks and calls.
With the help of neighbours, the family was forced to break open the door. Inside, they discovered the young girl hanging from the ceiling fan. She was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, but doctors could only declare her dead on arrival. The Old City Police were informed and conducted a preliminary spot inspection, initially registering a case of accidental death.
Father's Heart-Wrenching Complaint
The case took a significant turn on Saturday, following the postmortem and the minor's last rites. The girl's father lodged a formal police complaint, naming a 15-year-old Class 10 student from the same school as the alleged perpetrator.
In his complaint, the father detailed a pattern of persistent harassment. He alleged that the senior boy would follow his daughter on her way to and from school. Furthermore, the boy reportedly sent her continuous and unwanted messages on a social media platform. "We had informed the boy's father about the issue earlier. But the behaviour did not stop. My daughter repeatedly complained of his harassment," the grieving father stated in his official complaint, asserting that the relentless mental pressure led his daughter to take the drastic step.
Police Action and Ongoing Investigation
Based on the father's complaint, the police have now taken serious action. Old City Police Station in-charge Nitin Levherkar confirmed that a First Information Report (FIR) has been registered against the minor boy. The charges include abetment to suicide and other relevant provisions under the Juvenile Justice Act.
"A case has been registered based on the father's complaint. Further investigation is underway," Levherkar told the media. The investigation will be multi-faceted. Police officials indicated they would thoroughly examine digital evidence, including messages on the social media portal. Additionally, statements will be recorded from school authorities and other students to build a complete picture of the events leading to the tragedy.
This heartbreaking incident in Akola raises urgent questions about student safety, the mechanisms to address harassment in schools, and the profound impact of cyber-stalking on young minds. The community awaits the findings of the police investigation as they mourn the loss of a young life.
