Deceased boy’s family petitions police, says ragging led to his alleged suicide

The Kochi City police have launched an inquiry into the alleged suicide by a 14-year-old boy earlier this month, after his mother petitioned the State Police Chief alleging that ragging at school had led her son to take the extreme step.

The petition had since been forwarded to District Police Chief (Kochi City) Putta Vimaladitya. The Thrikkakara Assistant Commissioner of Police has been entrusted with the inquiry. The Hill Palace police had already registered a case for unnatural death and a probe was under way. They had recorded the statements of the boy’s family members. The family had since then moved out of their apartment.

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

According to information received from his friends and through social media messages, he was allegedly bullied by some students on the school premises and aboard the school bus. He was also reportedly subjected to ragging and physical assault. Stories and chats from an Instagram forum formed by his friends immediately after his death revealed horrific incidents of ragging, the petition said.

“After obtaining this information, I wrote to the Principal, detailing the brutal ragging act inflicted upon my son, along with the evidence we 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.

The police have been cautious with the probe as the issue involved minors.

(Those in distress or having suicidal tendencies could seek help and counselling by calling any of the following numbers: DISHA – 1056, 0471-2552056, State’s health helpline 104, Maithri – 0484-2540530, Thanal Suicide Prevention Centre – 0495-2760000.)