A day prior, GPS International released a statement claiming they had found no evidence of bullying or ragging at the institution as previously alleged.
Published Feb 05, 2025 | 12:09 AM ⚊ Updated Feb 05, 2025 | 12:11 AM
Mihir Ahmed died by suicide due to alleged bullying by schoolmates.
Synopsis: Kochi’s GPS International school maintains that it gave 15-year-old Mihir Ahammed a “second chance” and found no evidence of bullying that allegedly led to his death by suicide last month. The victim’s mother strongly refutes these claims, asserting that she filed a formal complaint detailing ragging and social media harassment just days before his death.
The mother of the 15-year-old Mihir Ahammed, who died by suicide last month allegedly after being brutally bullied by his schoolmates, on Tuesday, 4 February, strongly refuted Global Public School’s claims that her son was admitted on probation, calling the school’s statement “misleading and factually incorrect.”
She emphasised that the school was “the last chance, not the second chance” for the Class 9 student.
“The school’s statement suggests that Mihir was given admission as part of a second chance, implying that he was expelled from his previous school. This is entirely misleading. Mihir was not expelled or asked to leave GEMS Modern Academy. In fact, the GEMS school wanted us to continue his education there. However we took the difficult decision to apply for a transfer certificate and enroll him in GPS International. The GPS school’s insinuation otherwise is an attempt to deflect responsibility. GPS gave him the last chance – not the second chance,” she said in a statement.
A day prior, Global Public School released a statement claiming they had found no evidence of bullying or ragging at the institution as previously alleged. The school maintained that no complaints were filed before Ahammed’s death on 15 January, when he fell from the 26th floor of Choice Paradise Tower in Kochi.
“After some issues in GEMS school, which as we hear, is related to a physical assault on a girl student, he had to take a TC from there and sought admission to GPS International. Being a school which believes in giving a second chance to a student, we decided to give admission to the child, even though it was the middle of the academic year.
“We took an undertaking from the parent that Mihir would abide by the school rules,” the school’s statement read.
“We did everything to get him integrated into all the activities at school. On 14-01-2025 Mihir and a few of his friends were involved in an incident in which one of the fellow students was hit. The parents of all four students who were responsible, including Mihir’s parents, were called to school the next day.”
Reading the letter written by Mihir’s mother is heartbreaking. As mothers, all we wish for, is the safety and happiness of our children. I cannot even imagine the pain and anger she must feel to know that her child was tortured and hounded in the way she has described. Her fight…
— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) February 3, 2025
However, Ahammmed’s mother contested the statement, stating that a formal written complaint was filed with school authorities on 23 January, detailing evidence of ragging and bullying through social media posts. “Several other students had reported the same gang of bullies to the school authorities just a week before Mihir’s death. Had the school taken timely action, my son’s life could have been saved,” she said.
She continued, “Contrary to what has been mentioned in the school’s statement, my family did not sign any special undertaking related to Mihir’s admission, beyond the standard admission process followed by all students. The claim of an exclusive undertaking further adds to the misleading narrative, suggesting that Mihir was a problematic student who required special monitoring —this is simply not true.”
Meanwhile, amid concerns over the NOC sought by the General Education Dept, Global Public School reaffirmed its compliance with all regulatory requirements. It emphasised that it is a fully authorised institution with all necessary approvals in place. “We have all the required documentation and permissions. Please find attached the evidence of our NOC, State Government recognition, and CBSE approval,” it stated.
Ahammmed’s mother further alleged that one of the students accused of ragging Ahammed is an adult, not a minor – a fact she claims the school deliberately concealed.
“What is most shocking is that one of the students accused of ragging Mihir is an adult, not a minor, as the school claims. This fact has been deliberately hidden by the school to mislead the public and downplay the severity of the situation. The involvement of an adult makes this even more serious, and the school’s silence on this matter raises significant concerns about their internal investigation,” she said.
She also disputed the school’s account of a January 14 incident, stating that Ahammed was merely a witness to a fight, not a participant as suggested by the school.
The mother’s statement detailed disturbing allegations of bullying, including forcing Ahammed to vape and subjecting him to degrading treatment in school toilets. Post his death, chat messages revealed some classmates allegedly celebrating the tragedy on social media.
The Tripunithura Hill Palace Police have registered an FIR under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The investigation, led by the Thrikkakara Assistant Commissioner of Police, is examining CCTV footage, phone records, and social media activity.
Ahammed’s mother has also approached the Child Welfare Commission regarding harassment allegations against the vice principal of GEMS Kochi, Ahammed’s former school. She is now reaching out to former GPS students who may have experienced similar bullying, seeking testimonies through social media.
“I have never heard of a school disrespecting the victim, especially one who is gone and unable to defend himself. Instead of showing compassion, they have chosen to shift the blame onto Mihir, adding to our grief,” she said in a statement.
“It was painful to see the chat messages of the students accused of bullying Mihir, but now, I am not surprised. Ultimately, students learn from their teachers. The culture of disregard and lack of empathy shown by the school is a result of that environment,” she said, calling for a thorough investigation into both the bullying incidents and the school’s handling of the case.
Meanwhile, veteran Kerala Congress leader and Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor, responding to Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s post about Ahammed’s death, wrote on X: “A mother rightly stands with another mother in her grief. But this affects us all — no male citizen of India is exempt from the responsibility of raising our sons and brothers to be decent human beings, not the monsters who did this to a fellow student.”
(Edited by Dese Gowda with inputs from Sreelakshmi Soman)
