Tirunelveli:
A Class X student of a private school allegedly committed suicide on Monday by hanging himself after he was asked to pay a fine by school authorities for breaking some flower-pots, police said today.
Police said the 16-year-old boy and his classmates were asked to pay Rs 5000 as punishment. The boy had stayed away from school till Sunday as he belonged to a poor farmer's family and could not afford to pay his share of the fine.
Yesterday, when he went to school, his class teacher reportedly again asked him to pay the fine. The vexed student then went back home and allegedly committed suicide, police said.
The police have arrested the Principal of the school and a teacher.
School authorities, when contacted, said all other 43 students had paid their share of the fine. They also said that levying fine for breaking school articles was common in any educational institution including government schools.
Puthiya Tamizhgam party activists and relatives of the boy blocked road traffic yesterday demanding action against the school management for levying fine. They dispersed after police assured them that action would be taken.