Suicide by a Class 10 student at the Rajendra Place metro station spilled anger onto the streets as parents, neighbours, and family friends gathered outside a prominent Delhi school, demanding accountability and a complete overhaul of how teachers treat young students.
The boy, allegedly harassed by four teachers, chose to end his life by jumping before a train.
On Wednesday (November 19), Delhi Police registered an FIR against unknown persons under Sections 107 (abetment to suicide) and 3(5) (common intent) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023.
The boy’s father alleged that four teachers, including the school principal, had subjected his son to severe emotional distress, ultimately driving him to the brink.
According to the FIR, the child had confided in friends that his teachers had repeatedly humiliated and threatened him.
One teacher allegedly warned him over the past four days that she would call his parents and initiate his transfer certificate (TC). Another teacher reportedly pushed him.
The FIR further states that on November 18, during drama class, the student slipped and fell. Instead of offering help, the teacher allegedly mocked him, telling him he was “overacting.”
When he became visibly upset, she reportedly said his tears “would not make any difference.”
During their investigation, police recovered a suicide note from his backpack. In it, the boy apologised profusely to his family and wrote heartbreakingly:
“What can I say, the teachers of my school are like this.”
Community Outrage and Allegations of Toxic Behaviour
On Thursday, the school gates became the centre of a swelling protest led by several people, including family friends and a social activist.
“This was not suicide — this was murder,” they alleged. Sources said that the child was passionate about dramatics but struggled with academic scores, leading to constant taunts and belittling from teachers.
He claimed that for nearly a year the child endured emotional harassment, which intensified over the last two months.
The boy had begged his parents to transfer him to another school, but as he was in Class 10, the transition mid-year seemed impossible. His parents had promised to shift him after completing the academic year.
Tragically, when the parents — who were in Maharashtra for the mother’s surgery — received the news of their son’s death, they were hundreds of kilometres away. His body is still en route to Sangli, where the last rites will be performed.
Voices From Other Parents: “The Problem Is Systemic”
Outside the school, another parent — who did not wish to be named — said her son was still healing from the trauma inflicted during his time at the same institution.
She alleged a culture of favouritism among teachers:
“Debating was his strength. But certain teachers pushed their preferred students forward.
They dismissed his achievements, ignored his trophies, and mocked him in class. He became withdrawn. Even today, after graduating this year, he avoids looking at the school building.”
Differing Views Among Former Students
A group of former students passing by joined the protest. One of them said the teachers were strict but did not cross boundaries.
“We were scared of our parents, not teachers. They never humiliated us over studies,” he said.
But another former student painted a starkly different picture.
“These boys did well academically — they don’t know how badly the rest of us were treated,” he said.
He alleged that teachers segregated academically weak students, comparing them unfavourably and shaming them openly.
“One teacher told me she pitied my parents for having a son like me,” he recalled.
A Bigger Problem: The Mindset of Some Teachers Still Hasn’t Changed
The tragedy has ignited a broader debate: despite strict guidelines, counselling mandates, and awareness campaigns, a section of teachers still operates with outdated, harmful attitudes.
Many parents feel that while schools implement modern curricula, some teachers have not upgraded their approach to dealing with young, emotionally vulnerable minds.
Humiliation, comparison, and threats — even delivered casually — can leave deep, lasting scars on children navigating academic pressure, identity formation, and adolescence.
Parents at the protest made one message clear:
Teachers must learn to inspire, not intimidate; to guide, not belittle.
Changing this mindset may be the only way to prevent more such avoidable tragedies.
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