Coimbatore student ends life; family accuses teacher, classmates of harassment over caste and beef consumption

Relatives of the deceased student at the Peelamedu Police Station in Coimbatore late on Wednesday, October 21, 2026. | Photo credit: Special arrangement

A Class 11 student of a government-aided school in Coimbatore, who belongs to the Scheduled Caste community, ended his life on Wednesday (October 21, 2026) after allegedly being harassed by several classmates and a teacher over his caste and food habits.

Student A. Akilana’s mother alleged that teacher Vijayakumar made five students, including her beef-eating son, stand up in class two months ago.

The Peelamedu police late on Wednesday night booked two students, Vijayakumar and school principal Arunkumar, on charges of inciting suicide and other offences. Vijayakumar was arrested on Thursday (October 22).

Police said 16-year-old Akilan left home at 8 a.m. on Wednesday and informed his mother, A. Kowsalyadevi, that he was going to school. The woman, who works as a domestic help in Bharathi Colony, returned home around 1 pm for lunch and found the main door unlocked. She checked inside and found her son dead.

When the Peelamedu police were informed, they sent the body for post-mortem.

‘Harassed for eating beef’

In her complaint, the student’s mother alleged that Vijayakumar had asked about students belonging to Scheduled Caste communities in the classroom two months ago to get them for scholarship. Akilan signed up for the same. The woman claimed that the teacher also asked the class how many students consumed beef, and Akilan and four others stood up. She said in the complaint that since then the two classmates had been harassing and attacking Akilan because of his caste.

Although Akilan reported the harassment by his classmates to Vijayakumar, he did not take any action. The complainant alleged that the school principal Arunkumar also failed to take appropriate action when her son complained to her. The woman said she abandoned her plan to question school authorities about the incidents because Akilan feared he would be alienated and further targeted. Her husband Ashok Kumar works in a resort in Kerala.

The police have registered a case against two students, a teacher and a principal for offenses under Sections 115(2) and 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Act and Section 3(2)(a). (v) the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Further investigation is underway.

(Help to overcome suicidal thoughts is available on the state health line 104, Tele-MANAS 14416. and Sneha on the suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050).

Published – 22 Oct 2026 16:06 IST