Agartala, July 31: A three-member inquiry panel constituted at the behest of Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha has submitted its report into the tragic suicide of a brilliant Class 12 student from South Tripura, who allegedly took her own life after facing humiliation by a schoolteacher.
According to an official from the Secondary School Education Department, the committee visited the Sonarpur Class XII School in Barpathari on Wednesday.
During their investigation, they interacted with the girl’s grieving family, teaching staff, fellow students, and others familiar with the case.
“The report has been submitted to the department’s Director, Nripendra Chandra Sharma, who will forward it to the government for necessary action,” the official told IANS.
The student, known for her academic excellence, allegedly ingested pesticide on July 24, a day after reportedly being publicly humiliated by a teacher over her exam answers.
Following the incident, Chief Minister Saha — who also oversees the School Education portfolio — directed the formation of the probe panel to ascertain the facts surrounding the suicide.
The fact-finding team included Lisa Bardhan, Joint Director of Elementary Education; Kajal Kumar Bhowmik, Officer-on-Special Duty (OSD) at the Directorate of Secondary Education; and Sudip Sarkar, OSD at the District Education Office in West Tripura.
Initial findings indicate that the student may have taken the drastic step after being scolded by a teacher. A statement from the Chief Minister’s Office said the committee was tasked with conducting a comprehensive probe into all possible angles of the incident.
Reports suggest the teacher accused the girl of cheating during the school’s internal exams, allegedly hurled her answer script at her, and reprimanded her in the presence of other students and faculty. The emotional trauma from the episode is believed to have driven the student to suicide the next day.
Education experts and rights activists have condemned the incident, reminding that both the Right to Education Act and Supreme Court directives strictly prohibit corporal punishment and psychological abuse in schools. Many have held the teacher responsible for violating these protections.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage, with students of Sonarpur Class XII School and political groups such as the CPI-M and the Congress demanding stern action against the teacher.
Congress leader Sudip Roy Barman extended financial assistance to the bereaved family to help with the last rites, acknowledging their economic hardship. CPI-M leader Sudhan Das, along with others, visited the victim’s home to express solidarity and support.
As the state awaits the government’s next course of action based on the inquiry findings, the tragedy has reignited debate over mental health awareness in schools and the urgent need for sensitization among educators. (With Inputs from IANS)
