A 12-year-old girl from Southern India has killed herself after her teacher allegedly embarrassed her over a blood stain from menstruation.
A suicide note left by the girl, who jumped off a building near her home, accused the teacher of “torturing” her.
The note itself does not mention that she was period shamed. However, the girl’s mother says that the teacher told her daughter to leave the class because of the stain.
Local media reported that the mother claimed the female teacher made the girl show her stain in class.
In much of rural India, women are believed to be impure during their periods and the subject is taboo.
The incident took place early on Sunday, last week, in Tirunelveli district in the state of Tamil Nadu. Police have registered a case of suicide and say they are investigating.
“Amma [mother], please forgive me,” began the note.
“I do not know why my teacher is making complaints against me. I still can’t understand why they are harassing and torturing me like this,” the student continued.
Her mother said, “The teacher did not even take into account that there were boys in the class.
“She asked my daughter to lift (the) top of her salwar (kameez) up and then gave her (a) duster cloth to use as a pad.”
