Thiruvananthapuram: The Special Investigation Team of police probing the suicide of a plus one student at a private religious school in Balaramapuram has found the institution was operating without mandatory approvals from the authorities concerned.
The probe team has forwarded a letter to the district collector seeking detailed scrutiny of approvals given to the religious school.
The departments that let the school function without proper vetting will be examined in detail.
Asmiya Mol (17) from Beemapalli was found hanging inside the library hall of the Khadeejathul Kubra Women's Arabic Centre run by Al Aman Educational and Charitable Trust at Idamanakuzhi on May 13.
The investigation into the cause of death is now in its final stages, a source close to the developments said. The police are investigating whether charges of abetment to suicide can be invoked in the case.
The probe team has recorded the statements of Asmiya's relatives, classmates and teachers.
Some of the classmates were summoned to the police station while a few others were contacted over the phone, police said.
The SIT has seized documents including the attendance register of the school as part of evidence gathering. A source hinted that documents related to the registration of the institution were collected as well.
The probe team led by Neyyattinkara assitant superintendent of police T Farash include four policewomen.
The cops concluded that it was a case of suicide as the post-mortem confirmed that Asmiya died by hanging. There were no other injuries on her body.
However, the family alleged foul play in the death and claimed that the Ustad, a teacher at the religious study centre, had mentally harassed Asmiya.
She had vowed to her classmates not to return to the institution in question after the Bakrid vacation, police said.
Upon interrogation, the staff at the centre told the cops that they did scold her on some occasions but had not caused any bodily harm.
