Hazaribagh (Jharkhand), May 18 (IANS) Tension erupted outside the Vivekananda Vidyalaya in Jharkhand’s Hazaribagh district on Monday as hundreds of residents and family members of a Class 10 student staged a protest demanding a fair investigation into her death.

Shweta Kumari, 15, allegedly died by suicide after facing sustained mental harassment from a fellow student and alleged intimidation by a teacher, according to her family members.

The protest, which continued for nearly an hour outside the school’s main gate, saw demonstrators raising slogans seeking justice for the student and demanding strict legal action against those allegedly responsible.

The institution falls under the jurisdiction of the Bara Bazar police station in Hazaribagh town.

According to the victim’s father, Sanjay Gupta, a male student at the same school, identified as Solenz Rana, had allegedly been harassing Shweta for nearly a month and exerting “unethical pressure” on her.

The family further alleged that a teacher at the school, Pratibha Singh, had also mentally threatened the student through phone calls. Under severe mental stress caused by the alleged harassment, Shweta reportedly consumed poison.

After her health deteriorated, she was initially admitted to Arogyam Hospital in Hazaribagh and later referred to Medanta Hospital in Ranchi for advanced treatment. She died during treatment on May 15.

Following information about the protest, the Bara Bazar police station in charge reached the spot along with police personnel to control the situation.

During the demonstration, BJP leader Amardeep Yadav and members of Mukti Dham Seva Sansthan, led by Neeraj Kumar, also met the protesting family members and residents.

Police and administrative officials assured the family that the investigation would be conducted impartially.

According to the protesters, the agitation was withdrawn only after the administration assured them that the accused student and the teacher named in the complaint would be arrested and sent to judicial custody within a week.

Police said a case has been registered on the basis of the written complaint lodged by the victim’s father and that the investigation is being intensified with the help of technical and scientific evidence.

–IANS

sn/vd