After incidents of honour killings and custodial deaths, another disturbing case has triggered outrage in Tamil Nadu. The body of a missing Class 11 student was discovered floating in a well within the premises of a government-aided school in Tirupattur district on 3 August, two days after his disappearance. His family alleges foul play.
The student, Mukilan, a resident of Kothur village in Natrampalli taluk, was studying at missinoary-run Dominic Savio Higher Secondary School. According to police and media reports, the well, located within the school grounds, was mostly secured with an iron grill but had a narrow opening just large enough for someone to pass through.
Mukilan was reported missing on August 1, when teachers noticed his absence and informed his family. After an unsuccessful search, his parents lodged a missing person’s complaint at Tirupattur Town police station. Acting on the complaint, police began a search operation on August 3 with assistance from a dog squad. His body was found in the well near the hostel.
Personnel from the Fire and Rescue Services retrieved the body, which was sent to Tirupattur Government Hospital for post-mortem. Police registered a case under Section 194 of the BNSS, relating to death by drowning.
After inspecting the location, ADSP Govindaraju told the media, “The well is approximately 600 metres from the main school building, located in a remote part of the playground. Although largely sealed, it has a small entry point and an internal ladder, which could enable someone of smaller build to climb down.” Based on initial findings, police suspect suicide but are awaiting the post-mortem report for confirmation.
In a tragic turn, Mukilan’s father reportedly tried to jump into the same well but was stopped by the police. The student is survived by his parents and four sisters.
Protests erupted soon after the discovery. His family, joined by members of political parties including the TVK and AIADMK, demanded the school’s closure and accountability from its administration.
BJP state president Nainar Nagenthran posted on X, expressing sorrow and questioning the school’s failure to thoroughly search the campus during the boy’s disappearance.
https://twitter.com/NainarBJP/status/1951999042398900469
On August 5, the family refused to accept the body after autopsy and staged a protest outside the Tirupattur Government Hospital. They also held a rail roko at Tirupattur railway station, where his sisters and relatives sat on the tracks, reiterating their demand for the arrest of school authorities and the institution’s closure.
Hindu Munnani condemned the incident and highlighted the school management’s political connections. The outfit shared an old image of the management honouring local DMK MLA Devaraja, alongside town secretary Rajendran, vice-chairperson Venmathi, Munisamy, another MLA Nallathambi, and Father Dominic.
திருப்பத்தூர் திமுக MLA தேவராஜ், மாணவன் இறந்த சம்பவத்திற்கு காரணமான பள்ளியின் நிர்வாகிகளை சால்வை அணிவித்து மரியாதை செலுத்திய காட்சிகள்…
மக்களே! உங்கள் கருத்து?? கமெண்ட்ல சொல்லுங்க..#Justice_for_Student_Mukilan #Tirupattur #StudentDeath #DMKMLA #CommentsPlease #HinduMunnani pic.twitter.com/Kp7NH3QUM8
— Hindu Munnani (@hindumunnani_tn) August 5, 2025
Hindu Munnani state president Kadeswara Subramaniam has demanded the immediate arrest of Joseph Manickam and other members of the school administration. The group also urged the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) to step in and called for a CBI probe.
நீதிமன்றம் இந்த வழக்கை சிபிஐ விசாரிக்க உத்தரவு இட வேண்டும்.
டோமினிக் சேவியர் பள்ளி நிர்வாகி ஜோசப் மாணிக்கம் மற்றும் பள்ளி நிர்வாகிகள் உடனடியாக கைது செய்யப்பட வேண்டும்.
பள்ளி மாணவர்கள் அனைவரையும் குழந்தைகள் உரிமைகள் பாதுகாப்பு ஆணையம் நேரில் விசாரணை மேற்கொண்டு, மேலும்… pic.twitter.com/oZneESkLa5
— Hindu Munnani (@hindumunnani_tn) August 5, 2025
Critics allege that, true to form, the DMK, its allies such as NTK, and sections of the media under their influence, have maintained a stoic silence on the incident in order to protect their minority vote bank.
