Palakkad: The issue over Instagram chats among students using inappropriate language was resolved by the parents; however, it flared up again, ending in 14-year-old Arjun's suicide, according to his relatives. Arjun, son of Jayakrishnan and Manjusha from Charalamparamb, Pollappadam, Mathur, was a Class 9 student at the Higher Secondary School, Kannadi. His father works in the UAE, while his mother works at a photostat shop in the locality. 

A student's mother happened to see a chat involving Arjun on Sunday, and she rang up Manjusha to tell her about the language used in the messages.

"She suggested that the issue be reported to the school,” said Mahesh, Arjun's uncle. He accompanied Manjusha to the school. “We went to the school on Monday, but the class teacher was absent. Other teachers spoke to the children with her permission, and we all agreed not to escalate the matter, as they were just children who had made a mistake.”

Mahesh said Arjun appeared calm that evening and told his family he would focus on his studies. “He told us that the teasing and beatings wouldn’t affect him anymore, and that he would just focus on his studies,” recalled his uncle, Mahesh. “But by Tuesday evening, we found him hanging. We still can’t understand what the teachers did to drive him to such an extreme step.”

According to relatives, Manjusha returned home around 5.30 pm after work to find the main door locked. “She knew Arjun must have returned from school and thought he might be sleeping, but when there was no response, she opened the door with a spare key and found him hanging in his room,” said Mahesh. Arjun was rushed to Thangam Hospital in Palakkad, where he was declared brought dead. The post-mortem was conducted at the District Hospital. Jayakrishnan, who had gone abroad just three months ago, returned on Wednesday after hearing the news.

The family alleges that Arjun was subjected to repeated humiliation and physical assault by his class teacher, Asha. The latest incident, they said, began when the teacher discovered that Arjun had used Instagram to chat with friends using inappropriate language.

“He said he had no issues. But the next day, the teacher allegedly insulted him in front of his classmates and later took him to the staffroom, where she beat him severely,” Mahesh said.

Students reportedly told the family that Asha had threatened to file a cybercrime complaint against Arjun and impose a ₹25,000 fine. “We learned this only after his classmates came home the next day. They said she even treated him like a criminal. The students even called her a monster,” Mahesh said.

Relatives also recalled a previous incident about six months ago, when Asha allegedly beat Arjun after students threw blackboard dusters at each other. “He had red marks all over his back. His father went to school and requested the teachers not to beat the children like that. After that, we believe Arjun was specifically targeted,” Mahesh alleged.

Neighbour and former panchayat member Ismail claimed the teacher was now admitted to a hospital “to avoid arrest” and alleged that her husband, an advocate, was trying to protect her. “Arjun was a quiet boy who never created problems. The school is trying to shield the teachers,” he said.

However, Kannadi vice president and former PTA president K T Udayakumar said the school had done nothing wrong. “Some children have behavioural issues. Teachers may warn or scold them, but that doesn’t mean they are at fault. The boy had been sending inappropriate messages repeatedly, and multiple parents had complaints against him,” he said.

Following the incident, students boycotted classes and staged a protest on Thursday, joined by local residents and members of student organisations. Headmistress Lissy and class teacher Asha have been temporarily relieved of their duties pending investigation. “The decision was taken at a meeting attended by management representatives, the Assistant Education Officer, and the District Educational Officer,” said Beena K, a member of the school PTA committee.

Meanwhile, the school principal denied the allegations, saying the teacher had only warned Arjun for using obscene language online. “The matter is being exaggerated. The teacher merely scolded him to correct his behaviour. Arjun also had a habit of isolating himself whenever problems arose at home,” she told the media. 

Arjun’s funeral was held on Wednesday evening after Jayakrishan came back home. The Kuzhalmannam Police have registered a case of unnatural death under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). The family has also lodged a separate complaint alleging mental and physical harassment by the teacher.