Kerala child rights panel registers suo motu case on 14-year-old’s alleged ragging-linked death

The Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has registered a suo motu case over the alleged suicide of a 14-year-old boy on January 15, which his family had since attributed to ragging at his school.

The Kochi City police had earlier launched an inquiry into the incident after his mother petitioned the Chief Minister and the State Police Chief alleging that ragging at his school led her son to take his own life. The petition had since been forwarded to District Police Chief (Kochi City) Putta Vimaladitya. The Thrikkakara Assistant Commissioner has been entrusted with the inquiry. The Hill Palace police had already registered a case of unnatural death after the incident and a probe was underway.

“A suo motu case has been registered. Besides, a notice will be issued to the District Police Chief (Kochi City) and the Station House Officer of the station concerned asking for reports,” said K.V. Manoj Kumar, chairman of the commission.

The Ernakulam District Child Welfare Council has also intervened in the issue. “We have spoken to the mother, the Thrikkakara ACP and the investigation officer attached to the Hill Palace station. The school authorities have denied any incident of ragging on their premises,” said Arun Kumar, vice-chairman of the council.

In her petition, the boy’s mother said she had written to the school principal about the alleged brutal ragging of her son, along with the evidence the family had gathered. “In response, the school authorities informed me that they had forwarded the information to the police. I strongly believe that the school authorities are attempting to conceal the ragging incident from the police and the public, fearing that it will damage the school’s reputation,” the petition alleged.

Mr. Arun Kumar said that he will be meeting the investigation officer and the school authorities later in the day. Though he had planned to meet the mother, it emerged that she was in Kozhikode.

The deceased, a Class 9 student, was the eldest son of the petitioner. He was enrolled in the school in November 2024.

The mother’s petition said that according to information received from the victim’s friends and through social media messages, he was allegedly bullied by some students within the school premises and aboard the school bus. He was allegedly subjected to ragging and physical assault. Stories and chats from an Instagram forum, which had since been deleted, formed by his friends immediately after his death revealed horrific incidents of ragging, the petition said.

(Suicide Prevention Helpline: Disha – 1056, 0471-2552056)