Tears flowed as more than 1,000 people turned up at the house of M Vasanthapiriya in Nibong Tebal, Penang, to bid farewell to the 13-year-old student who succumbed to her injuries following an attempt to hang herself.
Among those present were the Form One student's schoolmates.
After prayers were performed, the coffin left in a car covered with flowers for the Hindu burial ground in Jalan Changkat at about 2pm.
Some of her friends, clad in their school uniforms, burst into tears and started to scream as the coffin left the house.
Vasanthapiriya's father, R Muniandy (below) was inconsolable while walking behind the hearse carrying her coffin.
At one juncture, he is heard saying in Tamil, "Lord Ganesha, I am surrendering her to you now."
Vasanthapiriya died at the Seberang Jaya intensive care unit at 3.30am yesterday due to brain injury.
She had been in a coma since Jan 24 when she hanged herself with a shawl after being accused of stealing a teacher's mobile phone.
In a note, Vasanthapiriya denied stealing the mobile phone.
Earlier at Vasanthapiriya's home, Malaysian Tamilar Kural president David Marshel questioned why the police were investigating the case as attempted suicide.
"Vasanthapiriya has already died. Police should instead look into other aspects of the law as she was detained illegally by her teacher at her house before she was taken to her parents and accused of stealing the iPhone," Marshel said.
Vasanthapiriya's uncle Manogaran Retom in his police report alleged that the teacher and her husband had taken the girl to their home to question her about the alleged theft before sending her back to her parents.
Yesterday, South Seberang Prai district police chief Supt Shafie Samad said an investigation paper on attempted suicide had been opened with regards to Vasanthapriya's death.
Meanwhile, Vasanthapiriya's passing touched the hearts of many, both near and far, with many concerned citizens at the funeral.
One such person was GP Venugopal, a retiree, who expressed sympathyfor her family over the tragedy.
"I understand their feelings since I, too, have two boys.
"I hope from now on the education ministry will make it a rule to have all teachers keep their valuables such as iPhones in a locker before going to teach in class," he told Malaysiakini.
"A locker for each teacher is not too expensive for the ministry. At least we can avoid such tragic incidents again," he added.
- Mkini
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.