Tragedy at Delhi School: 16-Year-Old Student Dies by Suicide After Alleged Teacher Harassment

New Delhi:

Students at St Columba's School in Delhi have revealed that 16-year-old Shourya Patil, who died by suicide this week by jumping from a nearby metro station platform, had previously disclosed suicidal thoughts to a school counselor.

On Thursday, students gathered outside the school with posters commemorating Patil, claiming he had spoken about experiencing "torture" for six months prior to his death. The students reported that Patil expressed feeling tense hours before the incident.

Fellow students criticized several teachers for allegedly "body shaming" and "insulting" students frequently. One student mentioned an incident where Patil was mocked by a teacher during dance practice, reportedly in the presence of Aparajita Pal, the Headmistress for Classes IV to X.

"If you say anything in class... if you argue... we are told 'you have no manners' and our parents are criticized for not teaching us manners. Our parents are also called," one student stated.

The school had not provided any comment at the time this report was filed.

According to Pradeep Patil, Shourya's father, his son was "publicly humiliated" on the day of his suicide after falling during dance rehearsals. The father recounted that when his son broke down crying on stage, a teacher allegedly remarked, "Cry as much as you want, I don't care."

"After my son's death, the Principal called me and said 'whatever help you need, let us know and we will support you'. I told him I want my son back," Pradip Patil told NDTV.

The father identified several teachers who he claimed had threatened his son, including Julie Vargis, who allegedly threatened expulsion; Manu Kalra, who allegedly pushed the boy; and dance and drama teacher Yukti Mahajan. None of these teachers had responded at the time of this report.

Shourya Patil left a heartbreaking note addressing his family. "Sorry mummy, aapka itni bar dil toda, ab last bar todunga. School ki teachers ab hai hi aise, kya bolu (Sorry mummy, I broke your heart many times and I am doing it for the last time. This is how the teachers in the school are, what do I say?)"

He also wrote: "Sorry bhaiya, I was rude to you, argued with you, disrespected you."

"Sorry papa, I should have been a good person like you."

"My parents have done a lot. I am sorry I couldn't give them anything," he stated.

In his note, Shourya requested that his organs be donated if they were in a "condition to work." "If any of my body works or is in condition to work kindly donate it to someone who really needs it," he wrote.

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