This is an archive article published on July 17, 2022
Violence in Tamil Nadu town over student’s death; buses torched, DIG injured
Sources said that on Sunday morning, around 2,000 people gathered at the school – where the Class 12 student was found dead on Wednesday – in response to a protest call on social media by youth groups in the area.
The agitators stormed the premises of a school at nearby Chinnasalem and set buses parked inside the institution's premises on fire and attacked police personnel as well, police said. (Sourced image/Express)
PROHIBITORY ORDERS were imposed at several places in Tamil Nadu’s Kallakurichi district after protesters clashed with police and indulged in arson at a residential school on Sunday to protest against alleged inaction following the death of a 17-year-old student earlier this week.
Several people, including senior police officers, were injured in the violence at the residential school in Kaniyamoor, near Chinnasalem. Later in the day, the school principal and two school officials were arrested and the government transferred the suicide case to the CB-CID.
The protesters set on fire at least 15 buses, including three police buses. Following the violence, Kallakurichi Collector P N Sridhar issued prohibitory orders under Section 144 until July 31 in Kallakurichi taluk and several places in Chinnasalem.
Violence erupted at a residential school in Tamil Nadu’s Kallakurichi district as protesters demanding justice over the death of a schoolgirl allegedly set on fire at least 13 buses, including three police vehicles, and pelted stones Sunday morning.
Chief Minister M K Stalin expressed regret over the violence and assured punishment for all those involved in the girl’s death. Appealing for peace, the CM said he has ordered the Home Secretary and the DGP to visit the site of the violence.
Sources said that on Sunday morning, around 2,000 people gathered at the school – where the Class 12 student was found dead on Wednesday – in response to a protest call on social media by youth groups in the area.
The student is suspected to have jumped to her death from the third floor of the school building. The autopsy report confirmed injuries on the girl’s body.
The protest turned violent, with the mob pelting stones and ransacking the school building, classrooms and the principal’s cabin.
Police said that a suicide note purportedly written by the girl mentioned that she struggled in several of her school subjects. The letter allegedly blamed some of her teachers for putting her under pressure over her poor scores and also asked the school to refund her annual school fee to her parents.
The girl’s family has refused to accept the body until those allegedly responsible for her death are arrested.
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Sources said that shortly after the girl’s death, when her family and local residents protested, they were promised strict action against the school. With no action even after three days, the protesters returned to the school in large numbers around 10 am Sunday.
Protets over the purported suicide of a schoolgirl in Tamil Nadu’s Kallakurichi district turned violent Sunday morning as protestors assembled outside the school in Chinna Salem and allegedly set on fire at least 15 buses, including three police vehicleshttps://t.co/iohk09Rc3h pic.twitter.com/xKsXnMqwhR
Soon, the protest turned violent, with the mob pelting stones and ransacking the school building, classrooms and the principal’s cabin. They also set fire to school buses parked on the campus besides attacking at least three police vehicles.
“DIG M Pandian and the district Superintendent of Police were among those who were injured in the stone-pelting before a police team was able to manage the situation,” said an official. The situation was brought under control after additional police forces were called in from neighbouring districts, including Villupuram, Cuddalore and Salem.
Minister C V Ganesan and (ruling DMK ally and VCK leader) Thol Thirumavalavan were among those who visited the victim’s family and promised to take up the case with the Chief Minister’s Office, said a senior police officer who was at the spot.
After the violence broke out, DGP C Sylendra Babu appealed to the people to maintain calm and warned strictly against those resorting to violence.
Arun Janardhanan is an experienced and authoritative Tamil Nadu correspondent for The Indian Express. Based in the state, his reporting combines ground-level access with long-form clarity, offering readers a nuanced understanding of South India’s political, judicial, and cultural life - work that reflects both depth of expertise and sustained authority.
Expertise
Geographic Focus: As Tamil Nadu Correspondent focused on politics, crime, faith and disputes, Janardhanan has been also reporting extensively on Sri Lanka, producing a decade-long body of work on its elections, governance, and the aftermath of the Easter Sunday bombings through detailed stories and interviews.
Key Coverage Areas:
State Politics and Governance: Close reporting on the DMK and AIADMK, the emergence of new political actors such as actor Vijay’s TVK, internal party churn, Centre–State tensions, and the role of the Governor.
Legal and Judicial Affairs: Consistent coverage of the Madras High Court, including religion-linked disputes and cases involving state authority and civil liberties.
Investigations: Deep-dive series on landmark cases and unresolved questions, including the Tirupati encounter and the Rajiv Gandhi assassination, alongside multiple investigative series from Tamil Nadu.
Culture, Society, and Crisis: Reporting on cultural organisations, language debates, and disaster coverage—from cyclones to prolonged monsoon emergencies—anchored in on-the-ground detail.
His reporting has been recognised with the Ramnath Goenka Award for Excellence in Journalism.
Beyond journalism, Janardhanan is also a screenwriter; his Malayalam feature film Aarkkariyam was released in 2021. ... Read More
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The protest turned violent, with the mob pelting stones and ransacking the school building, classrooms and the principal’s cabin.
