KOCHI: A Kerala police special investigation team (SIT) is investigating the circumstances leading to 14-year-old Mihir Ahammed‘s death by suicide on Jan 15, allegedly due to brutal bullying and ragging at a private school in Kochi.
In her complaint to the CMO and state police chief, Mihir’s mother Rajna PM alleged that the class 9 student enrolled in GEMS Modern Academy in Nov 2024 and was bullied in the school and on the school bus. He was allegedly physically assaulted, forcibly taken to the washroom, and subjected to humiliating acts of abuse.
The complaint details that Mihir returned home from school on Jan 15 at 3.25pm and was later found standing near the corridor window on the 26th floor of the apartment complex in the Tripunithura locality where the family lives. By 3.50pm, he had jumped.
SIT recorded the detailed statements of Mihir’s parents Sunday. The probe also includes reports that Mihir may have faced harassment at his previous institution – Global Public School.
According to Rajna’s brother Shareef, an analysis of online chat history among students suggested that Mihir was subjected to ragging in his news school. After her son’s death, Rajna wrote to the principal and shared screenshots of text messages on social media.
She claimed that the school informed her that they had forwarded the matter to police. “I strongly believe that the school authorities are attempting to conceal the ragging from police and public, fearing that it will damage the school’s reputation.”
GEMS Modern Academy denied the allegations, saying it cannot act based on “presumptions, surmises, and social media posts” without concrete evidence.
The school reiterated its zero-tolerance stand on bullying and ragging, stating that it does not condone or protect any student involved in such harmful behaviours. On Sunday, the school suspended vice principal Binu Azeez “to ensure a thorough and impartial investigation”.
Ernakulam deputy director of education visited the school Saturday, while Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights initiated suo motu action and issued notices to the district police chief, principal, and others.