In a tragic incident, a Class 11 student was found dead under mysterious circumstances inside a well located on the premises of a government-aided school in Tirupattur on 3 August 2025. The deceased, identified as Mugilan, was a resident student at the Dominic Savio Higher Secondary School and hailed from Kothur village in Natrampalli taluk.
Although the well had been mostly secured with an iron grille, it featured a narrow opening large enough for a person to pass through. Police have initiated an investigation to determine the circumstances that led to the boy’s death.
Mugilan had been reported missing since 1 August, when his absence in class prompted teachers to contact his family. Unable to trace him, his parents lodged a missing person’s complaint at the Tirupattur Town police station. Following this, a search was launched, and on 3 August, with the assistance of a dog squad, the boy’s body was discovered floating in the well near the hostel.
Emergency services, including the fire department, were called in to recover the body, which was then sent to the Tirupattur Government Hospital for autopsy. Police have registered a case under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nyay Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), relating to death by drowning.
ADSP Govindaraju, who inspected the location, stated that the well is approximately 600 meters away from the main school building and located in a remote corner of the playground. “While the well is largely sealed off, it has a small entry point and a ladder inside, which could allow someone small to enter,” he explained. Based on current evidence, police suspect it could be a suicide, though they await the postmortem findings to draw any conclusions.
The tragedy took an emotional toll on the family. Mugilan’s father, devastated by the news, reportedly attempted to jump into the same well but was saved by the police. Mugilan leaves behind his parents and four sisters.
In the aftermath, grief turned into anger as the boy’s family, along with members of political parties including the TVK and AIADMK, held a protest demanding the school’s closure and accountability from the school authorities. Vellore Superintendent of Police Mayilvaganan met with the demonstrators to address their concerns. Mugilan’s sister, speaking to the media, dismissed the possibility of suicide, “He always informed us about everything, even trivial matters. He would never take such a step.”
Criticism also mounted over the delayed discovery of the body. ADSP Govindaraju defended the initial search efforts, noting that the well is located in a locked and secluded area of the campus, and hence, the search had been focused elsewhere at first. “It was only when the dog squad was brought in that the body was found,” he said.
Reacting to the incident, BJP state president Nainar Nagenthran posted on X (formerly Twitter), expressing deep sorrow and questioning why the school administration failed to thoroughly check the entire campus, especially since the student had been missing for two days.
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