Several girl students from a government school in Sulur, Kallapalayam, have accused their Headmistress, identified as Deva Kiruba Jayakrishnan, of religious discrimination, physical assault, and enforcing bans on Hindu cultural practices.
In detailed testimonies recorded on video by Dinamalar, the girls alleged that the Christian HM repeatedly ordered Hindu students to remove their bindis, kumkum, sandal paste, and flowers before entering class. One student said, “If we come wearing a bindi, she makes us wash our faces. She beats us a lot unnecessarily.”
Another Class 11 student claimed she was hospitalised due to the assault. She stated the HM beat her inside the staff room for returning late from the restroom, despite the school having only one usable toilet for around 150 girls.
Parents also alleged harassment and humiliation. One mother said her daughter returned home with her forehead forcibly washed clean, while another claimed the HM confiscated a student’s slippers and made her walk barefoot.
Another student stated, “I study at the Government Higher Secondary School, Kallapalayam, Sulur, Coimbatore. There are about 150 girls, but only four toilets. Out of those, three are always unclean. We all use one. So when we return late, even by five minutes, the HM calls us and beats us.”
She added, “She asked why we were late by five minutes. We have special class at 7 AM. After the class, when we go to eat, she asks, ‘What do you achieve by eating?’ If we cry after being beaten, she tells us not to tell at home, ‘Don’t make small issues big,’ she said.”
The students have submitted a formal complaint to the District Collector demanding the removal of the HM, citing untouchability-like treatment, repeated physical assault, and religious coercion.
Authorities have not yet released an official statement.
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