A 15-year-old student from Kochi, Kerala, died by suicide after allegedly enduring severe bullying, harassment, and assault by his schoolmates at Global Public School. His mother accused the students of targeting him due to his skin color and subjecting him to cruel acts, such as forcing him to lick a toilet seat and pushing his head into a flushing toilet. Some students reportedly mocked him on social media even after his death. The Kerala government has ordered an inquiry, and police have filed a case to investigate the circumstances surrounding his death.
Before attending Global Public School, the student was at GEMS Modern Academy, where his mother claimed he was also mistreated, including harassment by the vice-principal. He had been suspended after slapping a girl who had pinched him, a move some believed was excessive. Following his death, it was discovered that students had created a WhatsApp group revealing details of the bullying, but it was deleted, and the school allegedly discouraged students from speaking out. Police are investigating both schools, and while officials are cautious about confirming if ragging occurred, they continue to examine the situation.
Global Public School denied receiving any complaints of bullying and stated that CCTV footage showed nothing unusual, claiming the student appeared happy before going home. GEMS Modern Academy has yet to respond to allegations against its vice-principal. Kerala’s education minister has vowed to take strict action against any schools found negligent, and authorities are working to prevent similar incidents in the future. The investigation is still ongoing.
