Death of Mihir Ahammed
 |
| Date | January 15, 2025 |
|---|---|
| Location | Thrippunithura, Ernakulam |
| Cause | Ragging Suicide |
| Inquiries | Kerala Police investigations |
| Suspects | Students of the Global Public School |
| Accused | Senior students of the Global Public School Ernakulam |
On 15 January 2025, Mihir Ahammed, a 15-year-old student of Global Public School Ernakulam,Kochi India. was found dead in his flat in Thrippunithura, Ernakulam, Kerala under suspicious circumstances.[1]
Suicide of Mihir Ahmed
[edit]January 12, 2025: Mihir Ahammed, a 15-year-old ninth-grade student, was found dead on the evening of January 12, 2025 after falling from the 26th floor of a 40-story flat complex in Thrippunithura, Ernakulam. The police initially reported it as a suicide. An employee working there found her dead on the third-floor truss of the building. She reported hearing a loud noise on January 15, 2025 and reached the spot around 4 pm. Mihir died after reaching home from school at 3.45 pm.[2][3]
Investigation
[edit]On 15 January, Mihir Ahammed was found suicide by jumping from the 26th floor of a flat [2]. An autopsy suggested that Mihir had died due to suicide by jumping from the top floor of a flat in Thrippunithura, Ernakulam[4]
Following his death, Senior students of the Ernakulam school where Mahr studied took Mihir to the toilet, licked the toilet with their tongues, and then submerged his head in the toilet, the family reported. As part of this, there was severe mental and physical torture, color discrimination, and making fun of color. All this led to suicide due to mental confusion, according to the findings of the Kerala Police and Mihir's family.[5]
Investigation findings
[edit]Initial investigation revealed that the boy had a fight with his classmates at school on Tuesday, January 11, 2025. He had joined Ernakulam School three months ago. On January 11, 2025, he was ragged by his senior classmates. Following this, the parents of the students involved in the scuffle were called to the Global Public School Ernakulam, on Wednesday, January 12, 2025. The police reported that the boy's stepfather also met the school authorities. The police report said that he later committed suicide by jumping from the 26th floor. The fire force arrived and brought down the body. The body was taken to the morgue of the Thrippunithura Taluk Hospital.[2]
#JusticeforMihir WhatsApp Group
[edit]The police have recovered WhatsApp chats related to the tragic death of Mihir Ahmed. It sheds light on the brutality he was subjected to by a group of his classmates. These include mocking and celebratory messages about Mihir's death.[6]
Mihir's uncle Sharif informed the police about the chats, saying that these chats were recovered through a group called "Justice for Mihir", formed by his classmates after the boy's death. Although the group was deleted within two days, vital evidence, including screenshots and messages, was shared with the family.
Sharif reports to the police: The group was quickly deleted, but crucial evidence was obtained, which was submitted to the school authorities. But no significant action was taken in the matter, alleging that it was Sharif who informed the Chief Minister and the Director General of Police about the matter[7]
A note from the mother of Mihir Ahmed, who committed suicide
[edit]“After his death, my husband and I started gathering information to understand why Mihir took such drastic action. Through conversations with his friends and classmates and reviewing social media messages, we have uncovered the horrifying reality of what he endured.”[7] “Mihir was beaten, verbally abused and made to endure unimaginable humiliation even on his last day. He was forcibly taken to the washroom, forced to lick the toilet seat, and his head was pushed into the toilet while flushing.”[8][9][4]
— A note from the mother of Mihir Ahmed
Reactions
[edit]Kerala Education Minister V. Sivankutty has ordered a thorough investigation into the incident in which 15-year-old Mihir Ahmed committed suicide after being brutally ragged by his classmates in Tripunithura. The minister has directed the Director of General Education to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident and recommend necessary action.[10]
Actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu said she was "completely shocked" by the news of the suicide of teenager Mihir Ahmed and hoped the bullying would be considered a serious insult. [11][12][13]
Actor Prithviraj Sukumaran responded to the suicide of teenager Mihir Ahmed incident with a message on his Instagram story, "Parents, homes, teachers, schools empathy lesson number one." He called for a social change towards greater understanding and compassion in the way we treat young people.[14]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Student's suicide: Child rights panel initiates action, police set up SIT". February 1, 2025 – via The Economic Times - The Times of India.
- ^ a b c "Day after tiff at school, teen falls from 26th floor & dies". January 16, 2025 – via The Economic Times - The Times of India.
- ^ Karunakaran, Maria Teresa Raju,Binu (February 1, 2025). "A Kochi teen dies by suicide and adults rush to shirk responsibility". The News Minute.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b "After Kerala student's suicide, mother accuses schoolmates of bullying & harassment". February 1, 2025.
- ^ https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/teen-dies-by-suicide-in-kochi-death-result-of-ragging-bullying-alleges-family-101738348475137.html
- ^ "Mihir's suicide: Kerala Child Rights Commission takes suo motu congnisance of ragging incident". English.Mathrubhumi. January 31, 2025.
- ^ a b "Group of students celebrated even Mihir's death; screenshots of chats surface in Kochi ragging case". English.Mathrubhumi. January 31, 2025.
- ^ Daily, Keralakaumudi. "'Made to lick toilet seat, head pushed into toilet and flushed, bulled for his skin colour'; mother's complaint on 15-year-old son's death". Keralakaumudi Daily.
- ^ Shaji, Ajay U. K,Sukanya (January 31, 2025). "Kerala teen's death sparks outrage, mother says schoolmates bullied, beat him up". The News Minute.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Mihir's death: Kerala Education Minister orders comprehensive probe into brutal ragging". English.Mathrubhumi. January 31, 2025.
- ^ https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/telugu-cinema/samantha-ruth-prabhu-absolutely-shattered-over-kochi-teens-suicide-due-to-bullying-i-hope-the-truth-isnt-silenced-101738333541323.html
- ^ "Samantha Ruth Prabhu Demands Strict Action As 15-Year-Old Dies By Suicide Due To Bullying". News18.
- ^ "Samantha Ruth Prabhu 'shattered' by Kochi teen's suicide due to bullying: 'Strict and immediate action must follow'". February 1, 2025 – via The Economic Times - The Times of India.
- ^ "'Empathy is lesson no: 1': Actor Prithviraj speaks out on brutal ragging of Mihir Ahmed". English.Mathrubhumi. January 31, 2025.