Violence erupted in Tamil Nadu this week following the death of a 17-year-old schoolgirl whose body was found at a hostel in Kallaraikurichi.
Protestors entered the hostel premises on Sunday where buses were overturned and burnt, as thousands demanded justice for her death, which her family have said remains suspicious. As Tamil Nadu police had set up blockades preventing access to the schools, protestors broke the barricades and threw stones causing clashes between police and protestors to ensue. Many protestors were subject to a lathi charge or were beaten by police officers, who reportedly fired bullets into the air at least twice to control the protestors.
Following the protests, three school representatives were arrested by Tamil Nadu Police including the school’s principal - Shiva Shankaran, correspondent – Ravikumar and secretary – Shanthi. At least 70 protestors were also reported to have been arrested for damaging public property.
The following day, some schools across the state reported teachers attending wearing black badges and not engaging in teaching classes, as an act of solidarity with the protests with calls for a wider shutdown.
The schoolchild’s body was found on Wednesday by her school hostel watchman where post-mortem reports indicated that she had died due to haemorrhage and shock as a result of multiple injuries ante-mortem. Whilst the Superintendent of Kallaraikurichi Police, S. Selvakumar claimed that a “suicide note” had been found with her body claiming that she had committed suicide after being publicly humiliated before her classmates by her teachers, her family refused to accept the explanation. Consequently, her family further refused to accept her body.
In the wake of the protests, Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister M.K. Stalin requested the public to maintain peace and order but pledged to also provide justice over the death.