Class 11 student dies by suicide in Rajkot over alleged academic, mental stress

Updated: Oct 20th, 2024

Rajkot student suicide

A Class 11 boy of  Motvada high school in Rajkot’s Lodhika taluka died by suicide, reportedly driven by academic and psychological stress, that aggravated over false threats of police action against him.

Dhruvil Varu, a 16-year-old resident of Chhapra village, hanged himself to death in his house. He also left a suicide note and filmed a video addressing his parents.

While weeping in the video, Dhruvil mentions that his ‘sir’ (teacher) has wronged him and says, “If I don’t take this step, the police will put me in jail, and I can’t live there.” He also points towards the suicide note in the video.

In the video, Dhruvil asks his mother for forgiveness and urges his parents to remain happy so his soul can find solace. “Don’t cry after I’m gone,” he says.

In his suicide note, he mentions a few of his acquaintances, including his teachers: Solanki sir, Mausam madam, Vibhuti madam, and Sachin sir, and his friends: Sahil and Ram.

A police probe has been launched following the incident. The suicide note and the video have been collected by Lodhika’s Metoda police.

An initial probe suggests that academic and exam stress, coupled with instances of rude behaviour by his teachers, including falsely threatening to hand him over to the police, may have contributed to this tragic incident.

Motvada and Chhapra villages, where the child travelled to and from school, have also been under the scanner. Police are also investigating the teacher who Dhruvil mentioned as being wronged in the video.

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Gujarat