14-year-old boy commits suicide after father fails to buy him smartphone

Apparently upset with his parents for denying him a smartphone for online classes, a class X student died of suicide on Saturday at his residence in Siruthondamadevi village near Panruti of Tamil Nadu's Cuddalore district. He was studying in class X at a private school in Panruti. Owing to the lockdown, the school had been conducting online classes for students.

Cuddalore:A 14-year-old boy allegedly committed suicide at his residence in Siruthondamadevi village near Panruti of Tamil Nadu's Cuddalore district after his father refused to purchase a smartphone for him to take online classes.

According to police sources, the boy was studying in class X at a private school in Panruti. Owing to the lockdown, the school had been conducting online classes for students.

“The boy had been forcing his father to purchase a smartphone for him to attend online classes, like the rest of his friends. His father, a cashew farmer, had assured to buy him the phone, once he makes some money selling the cashews,” police said.

"However, on July 29, disappointed over not getting a phone, the boy hung himself from the ceiling fan, using his mother’s saree," the police added. He was rushed to Panruti GH, but died the following day, as per the police report. The Kadampuliyur police have registered a case in this connection.

The police said no suicide note was recovered from the spot.

Tamil Nadu school education department issued guidelines for online classes in the state on Thursday.

Many poor families have suffered due to a lack of income, salary cuts and even job losses as a result of a coronavirus lockdown that has been in place since March 25.