Delhi teen suicide victim’s kin march to demand St Columba teachers’ arrest; docs warn against bullying

Around 100 protesters demanded the arrest of four suspended teachers linked to a student's suicide, while experts urged urgent action on children's mental health.

Published on: Nov 28, 2025, 04:50:08 IST

By Aaditya Khatwani, Ridhima Gupta

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

New Delhi

Protesters at the Karol Bagh police station. (HT)

Around 100 people gathered at the Karol Bagh market on Thursday evening and marched to the police station, demanding the arrest of four teachers of St. Columba’s school who were suspended after a 16-year-old student from the school died by suicide last week and had named them in his suicide note.

The march was organised by the student’s family and the Karol Bagh Jewellers Association.

“This is a simple march. We want the police to quicken their investigation, and for the teachers involved to be arrested. It is shocking that they have not been arrested yet; we feel as if the situation is not being taken seriously, and want the government to pay more attention to it,” said the student’s father.

The march started at 6pm and the protesters handed over a letter to the police.

Meanwhile, experts from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) renewed their call for urgent action on children’s mental health.

Speaking at a conference on “Mental Health Among School Children and Adolescents” on Thursday, they stressed that schools must actively monitor and curb bullying, particularly over body image and the growing influence of social media trolling.

Dr Rajesh Sagar, professor of psychiatry at AIIMS, said India faces a serious mental-health treatment gap. “For every 100 children who need help, barely 10 receive any form of mental-health intervention,” he noted, adding that early diagnosis and timely treatment remain severely inadequate.

Experts also highlighted that India reports a higher rate of suicides among children compared to many other countries, underscoring the need for stronger preventive measures, better school-based mental-health systems, and greater awareness among parents and educators.

Doctors noted that early signs of poor mental health in children include persistent sadness or irritability, social withdrawal, changes in sleep or appetite, and a decline in academic performance.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ridhima Gupta
Ridhima Gupta is a Principal Correspondent at Hindustan Times, where she covers healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and public health policy. Her reporting centers on Delhi’s major hospitals (AIIMS, Safdarjung, Lok Nayak), the state health department, and emerging medical trends. Ridhima is particularly interested in reporting on healthcare issues through the lens of women, children, and persons with disabilities. Her work often explores the intersection of healthcare and public policy, examining how these factors shape access health care. Based in New Delhi, many of her reports have led to direct government action over the years, in different city. Earlier this year, she completed a media training workshop on the Impact of Extreme Heat on Health, organised by the Global Strategic Communications Council (GSCC), further strengthening her interest in reporting on the intersection of climate change and public health. A postgraduate from the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai, Ridhima has around a decade of experience in journalism. She began her career as a trainee television reporter with Mirror Now in Mumbai and has since worked across multiple cities, including Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Delhi, contributing to both print and broadcast newsrooms. She is a recipient of the Laadli Media Fellowship (2022) for her reporting on education, disability, and women’s issues. Before joining Hindustan Times, Ridhima worked with The Times of India, New Indian Express and News18. A native of Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, Ridhima completed her undergraduate studies in Biotechnology. And when she is not working as a journalist she likes to paint and go on nature hikes.Read More

Catch every big hit, every wicket with Crickit, a one stop destination for Live Scores, Match Stats, Infographics & much more. Explore now!

Stay updated with all top Cities including, Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai and more across India. Stay informed on the latest happenings in World News along with Delhi Election 2025 and Delhi Election Result 2025 Live, New Delhi Election Result Live, Kalkaji Election Result Live at Hindustan Times.