Chief Minister condoles student electrocuted in Kollam

A day after a 13-year-old student was electrocuted at a school at Thevalakkara in Kollam, mass protests erupted across the State on Friday. Student organisations, including the Kerala Students’ Union (KSU), Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and Revolutionary Youth Front (RYF), organised protest marches to the school. The police stopped the marches using barricades, leading to tense moments between the protesters and security personnel. Protests were also held in other parts of the State.

Meanwhile, Education Minister V. Sivankutty, Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal and Animal Husbandry Minister J. Chinchurani visited the house of the deceased student, Midhun, and consoled the bereaved family members. Mr. Sivankutty and Mr. Balagopal also visited the Thevalakkara Boys High School.

The Education Minister said that the department had received the inquiry report and that a preliminary action had been initiated. “A high-level meeting discussed the findings of the report. It has been decided to suspend the headteacher of the school pending inquiry. An amount of ₹3 lakh will be provided to the family from the Education department’s fund,” Mr. Sivankutty said.