Violence erupts in Tamil Nadu over girl's suicide, cops open fire

Chennai, July 17

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Sunday directed the Director General of Police and the state Home Secretary to reach Kallakurichi and to give a report on the violent protests after visiting the area.

He also called upon the people to have confidence in the actions of the government and to maintain peace.

There was tension in Chinna Salem near Kallakurichi since Sunday morning after local people, protesting the suicide of a Class XII girl student of a private residential school, clashed with the police. Student organisations, mostly Dalit student organisations including those aligned with the VCK, DK, and the Left also held protests.

The Class XII student had reportedly jumped to death from the third floor of the hostel building of the private residential school where she was studying a couple of days before. In a suicide note recovered from her room, she had mentioned the name of two teachers who had mentally tortured her to be the reason behind her suicide.

The protesters first threw stones and bottles at police injuring several policemen and this led to the police firing in the air. This created more tension and a group of students and youths barged into the private school after breaking open the gates. — IANS