Tension prevailed near Valliyoor after the parents of a 13-year-old boy, found dead in the well of his school hostel, refused to claim his body post-autopsy on Wednesday, insisting on a full and impartial investigation.
The deceased, M Chermathurai, a Class VIII student at a government-aided school in Panagudi, was residing in the school’s hostel. On Tuesday, his body was discovered in a well located within the hostel premises.
His father, Mariappan, a resident of Vellakovil in Tirunelveli, filed a complaint with the Panagudi police, citing suspicions about the circumstances surrounding the death. The body was sent to Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital for a postmortem examination.
Speaking to the press, the grieving parents expressed their disbelief in the hostel’s explanation. “We were informed that our son fell into the well while drying his clothes. But that area is far from the well. We suspect something is being hidden,” they said, firmly stating that they would not receive the body until a credible explanation and investigation are provided.
Police officials responded that they are awaiting the postmortem findings and would act accordingly based on the medical and forensic evidence. The case has sparked concern over hostel safety and the need for greater transparency in such incidents.