For six days, the parents of 13-year-old Srikanth Mandal kept his body on the floor of their dilapidated hut, refusing to perform the last rites, as they suspect foul play behind the incident. They are demanding a second autopsy. Srikanth, a resident of Kedartola village in Hiranandpur panchayat under Manikchak block, was a student at a private school hostel. On the night of July 2, his body was found hanging inside the hostel room. With nearly 40 other students present in the same room at the time, his family is questioning how such an incident could have happened without anyone noticing or stepping in.
The family firmly denies the possibility of suicide. Instead, they accuse a hostel teacher of long-term physical and mental abuse. “My son cannot take his own life,” said the boy’s grieving father, Premkumar Mandal, a labourer working in Delhi.
"There are clear signs that my child was tortured. We will not cremate him until we know the truth," he added.
The first autopsy was conducted at Malda Medical College Hospital on July 3, and the report was handed over on Monday. However, the family claims there are several inconsistencies in the report. They have also pointed out visible injury marks on Srikanth’s body that raise further doubts. Dissatisfied with the findings, the family has preserved the boy’s body in a freezer and is now preparing to move the Calcutta High Court, seeking permission for a second post-mortem.
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A formal complaint has already been lodged at the Manikchak police station, naming the hostel teacher as a suspect in the case. The family alleges that the teacher regularly harassed Srikanth, leading up to his death.
“If this was suicide, then how do you explain the multiple injury marks on his body?” asked a family member, adding, “We want the court to intervene and ensure that justice is served.”
The case has sparked local outrage, with villagers and child rights activists demanding a thorough probe. Meanwhile, a district administrative official confirmed that an investigation is underway. “If the family moves court, the administration will follow the High Court’s directions,” the official said.
As Srikanth’s body lies in a cold-box and the grief-stricken family waits for answers, the tragic incident continues to highlight the need for stricter oversight and accountability in residential schools and hostels across the state.
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