Mihir Ahammed, a 15-year-old ninth-grade student, was found dead on the evening of January 12 after falling from the 26th floor of a 40-story apartment complex in Thrippunithura, Ernakulam. The initial autopsy report confirmed that Mihir's death was caused by suicide. In the aftermath of his death, shocking allegations of severe bullying and harassment at school have come to light.

According to Mihir's family, some senior students subjected him to brutal physical and mental abuse, including instances of racial discrimination and verbal harassment. Leaked chat screenshots show the use of racial slurs against Mihir and their disturbing reactions to his death. His mother revealed in a note that Mihir was beaten, verbally abused, and forced to endure severe humiliation on the day of his death-“After his death, my husband and I started gathering information to understand why Mihir took such drastic action.

Through conversations with his friends and classmates and reviewing social media messages, we have uncovered the horrifying reality of what he endured.” “Mihir was beaten, verbally abused and made to endure unimaginable humiliation even on his last day. He was forcibly taken to the washroom, forced to lick the toilet seat, and his head was pushed into the toilet while flushing The Kerala Police, in collaboration with a Special Investigation Team (SIT), is currently investigating a high-profile bullying case involving Global Public School. The victim's family has accused the school of attempting to cover up the incidents to protect its reputation.

The school responded by firmly denying the allegations, stating that it enforces a strict zero-tolerance policy toward bullying and requires substantial evidence before initiating disciplinary measures. Adding a new dimension to the case, GEMS Modern Academy revealed that Mihir was suspended on October 30, 2024, after a serious disciplinary incident involving the physical assault of another student. This led to his transfer to Global Public School. Kerala Education Minister V. Sivankutty has ordered an investigation into the matter. The Director of General Education has been instructed to conduct a detailed inquiry and recommend appropriate actions.

Meanwhile, the Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has also issued notices to the school principal and the district police chief. Additionally, the Ernakulam Deputy Director of Education visited the school to assess the situation firsthand. The incident has sparked widespread outrage and calls for a greater emphasis on empathy and compassion in schools. Actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu expressed shock at the incident, urging the public to treat bullying as a serious offense.

Actor Prithviraj Sukumaran shared a message on his Instagram story, saying, "Parents, homes, teachers, schools — empathy lesson number one," highlighting the need for societal change in the treatment of young individuals. The tragic death of Mihir Ahammed has reignited discussions about bullying, racial discrimination, and the mental health challenges faced by students. Right now authorities have assured that the investigation will be conducted thoroughly, and strict action will be taken accordingly.