Girl's death is case of suicide, police tell HC

Chennai, Dec 8 (UNI) The police today informed Madras High Court the death of a girl at Fathima Girls Higher Secondary School in Omalur of Salem District was a case of suicide.

This was stated in the counter affidavit filed by DSP of Salem to the petition of Tamil Nadu Catholic Educational Association seeking the appointment of a commission of inquiry headed by a retired judge of the High Court to probe the death of the girl student and the November 18 vandalism in the school following the incident.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice A P Shah and Mr Justice K Chandru, before whom the petition came up for hearing, posted to December 15 further hearing of the case.

The DSP said no definite materials were available to suspect the death of the girl was caused due to any other factor though the press had come out with various versions.

The DGP had ordered a CB-CID probe and the Mettur RDO was also holding an inquiry.

Preliminary investigations showed the Headmistress, Chemistry teacher and Hostel warden had abused the girl in an indecent fashion for having scored low marks following which the girl committed suicide.

The carelessness and indifferent attitude of the school authorities contributed to the unfortunate incident. It was only due to the emotional atmosphere certain unfortunate and unforeseen incidents took place.

The police had taken adequate steps to prevent the mob from entering the school by using force.

In view of the sensitive nature of the issue and emotional atmosphere, the police could not take coercive action which would have further aggrevated the situation.

There was no laxity on the part of the police in maintaining law and order. The lathicharge was made when the crowd went out of control.

The allegations against the police are unwarranted and not true.

All the 240 hostel students and 15 sisters and nuns were moved to safety and 32 persons arrested.

The PWD officials inspected the school and estimated the damage at Rs 11.14 lakh. The Municipal Commissioner also made an inspection and submitted a report which was now pending before the government, he added.

UNI XR GM VA RS1959