Kallakurichi school girl laid to rest, thousands bid tearful adieu

Those from neighbouring villages too paid their homage, as an inconsolable father demanded justice for his daughter's death

Twelve days after she died allegedly by suicide, the 16-year-old student of a residential school in Kallakurichi district of Tamil Nadu was laid to rest at her native village in Cuddalore Saturday. The girl’s family accepted her body from the Kallakurichi government hospital on Saturday morning in line with an assurance given by them to the Madras High Court.

The girl’s mother burst into tears when she signed a form at the hospital and received her child’s body at 6.50 am. The body was then transported to Periya Nesalur, her native village, where hundreds of people paid their last respects. The ambulance carrying the body met with a minor accident on the way.

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The girl’s body was buried along with her Zoology book. The family decided against consigning the body to flame at the last minute after which a pit was dug.

The 16-year-old student was staying in the school hostel in Kallakurichi and allegedly jumped to death on July 12. However, the family alleged foul play in the death and demanded action against the school management citing the girl’s suicide note in which she blamed two teachers for “torturing her” and the postmortem report which spoke of injury marks in her body.

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After 11 days, the family decided to take the body for cremation.

Five persons – two teachers named by the student in her suicide note and three from the management – have been arrested by the police. A re-post mortem of the girl was done on July 19 following an order by the high court but the father insisted on another post-mortem in which a doctor of the family’s choice should be present.