Two more student suicides in Tamil Nadu in 24 hours sends shockwaves

In string of student suicides in Tamil Nadu, two more school students of 11 and 12 reportedly died by suicide in separate incidents in the state, taking the number such deaths to five this month.

A class 12 student was found hanging at his residence near Karaikudi in Sivagangai district on Wednesday following which the authorities have initiated a probe into the incident. “Last night, a class 12 student committed suicide by hanging himself at home. We are investigating the case. The autopsy was done. The body was handed over to his parents,” Karaikudi Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Vinoj told news agency ANI.

Another Class 11 girl died by suicide at home in Virudhunagar district’s Sivakasi in southern Tamil Nadu on Tuesday night.

Virudhunagar SP) M Manohar said a case of unnatural death has been registered and the body was sent for autopsy to ascertain the cause of death. An investigation into the circumstances of her death is underway, he said.

“Her parents told us that she suffered severe menstrual pain which may have led her to take the extreme step… But that’s the parents’ version,” Manohar told HT.

The incident came hours after another Class 12 student was found dead at her home in Virudhachalam in the Cuddalore district.

On Monday, a class 12 girl also died by suicide in Tiruvallur district in her hostel room in a government-aided school. A suicide by a class 12 student in the hostel of a private school in Kallakurichi on July 13 spotlighted the pressure on school children after her family suspected foul play in the 17-year-old girl’s death, leading to protests outside the school which erupted into a riot-like situation on July 17.