Tamil Nadu Teacher Arrested Under POCSO After Class 10 Student Dies by Suicide

A Class 10 student died by suicide at her home in Tamil Nadu's Kallakurichi district after she was allegedly sexually harassed by a male teacher at her school, officials said on Friday.

The teacher, identified as Jagadesan, has been arrested under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. He was also accused of "inappropriate behaviour" towards the girl.

A senior police officer said the investigation so far has confirmed that the teacher touched the student inappropriately. "The teacher had touched her inappropriately, bad touch, that's what we have confirmed," the officer said.

Police are examining both the circumstances surrounding the girl's death and the allegations levelled against the teacher. The investigation is continuing.

The incident has emerged amid opposition criticism of what it describes as a decline in law and order in Tamil Nadu, including crimes against women, murders, custodial deaths and honour killings. Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin has been among those questioning the government's handling of the issue.

Responding to questions raised by Udhayanidhi Stalin during the Demand for Grants debate in the Assembly, Chief Minister Vijay said not every crime could be characterised as a law-and-order problem. He said the outlook towards law and order needed to change and stressed that his government's priority was to prevent crimes and ensure that perpetrators were brought to justice.

The Chief Minister also said not all crimes could be attributed to the first 100 days of his government, and blamed the earlier DMK regime for failing to check drug abuse.

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