Hundreds of youth and villagers gathered before a private residential school on July 17 morning, demanding justice for the death of a Class XII girl student.
It turned into a riot like y with the protestors damaging vehicles belonging to the police and the school. Buses parked inside the institution's premises were set on fire. Stones were pelted on police personnel. Some of them set ablaze a police bus as well.
Following the violent protests, district collector PN Sridhar has issued restraining orders under section 144 till July 31 and across some parts of taluk. "Smoke was seen coming from inside the school as some of the furniture in the school was set on fire," according to an eyewitness.
As the rioters had blocked the entry of vehicles on the road leading to the school, even pelting stones at the approaching vehicles, the fire service personnel who were called couldn't reach the spot soon, the eyewitness added.On July 13, Class 12 student at the Kaniyamoor Sakthi Matriculation School near Chinnasalem was found dead at her hostel, and a note found in her hostel room alleged that two teachers at the school “tortured” her, leading to her suicide. The girl’s family and a few others protested since then, however, the peaceful blockade turned violent when hundreds showed up on Sunday, July 17, and stormed the school campus. The protesters set fire to as many as 15 school buses, as well as a police van and all the vehicles that had been parked at the school premises. Visuals also showed a few of them ramming a tractor into the side of a bus. The police have issued prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC in Kallakurichi till July 30.
The 17-year-old girl’s father had moved the Madras High Court on Sunday, seeking the probe to be transferred to the CB-CID. The petition filed by Ramalingam, the student's 47-year-old father, stated that it was necessary to conduct a second postmortem examination to “unearth the truth behind the suspicious death”. The case has been transferred to the CB-CID for investigation.DGP C Sylendra Babu appealed to the people to maintain calm and warned against resorting to violence. Strict action would be taken against those indulging in violence, he told reporters in Chennai. Chief Minister MK Stalin expressed his regret regarding the situation in Kallakurichi on Twitter.
Assuring punishment for those involved in the girl's death, he also informed that he had ordered the Home Secretary and the DGP to go to the site of the riots. The public must maintain peace, by keeping trust on the Government's action", he urged.On July 13, Class 12 student at the Kaniyamoor Sakthi Matriculation School was found dead at her hostel, and a note found in her hostel room alleged that two teachers at the school “tortured” her, leading to her suicide. The girl’s family and a few others protested since then, however, the peaceful blockade turned violent when hundreds showed up on Sunday, July 17, and stormed the school campus. The protesters set fire to as many as 15 school buses, as well as a police van and all the vehicles that had been parked at the school premises. Visuals also showed a few of them ramming a tractor into the side of a bus. The police have issued prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC in Kallakurichi till July 30.
The 17-year-old girl’s father had moved the Madras High Court on Sunday, seeking the probe to be transferred to the CB-CID. The petition filed by Ramalingam, the student's 47-year-old father, stated that it was necessary to conduct a second postmortem examination to “unearth the truth behind the suspicious death”. The case has been transferred to the CB-CID for investigation.
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