Jaipur school suicide: Parents say 9-year-old was bullied, ignored by teachers
Jaipur: In a quiet Jaipur home, the soft, trembling voice of nine-year-old Amaiyra Meena still echoes through a WhatsApp recording. “I don’t want to go to school… don’t send me,” she pleads through tears.
Her mother, Shivani, had recorded the clip a year ago and sent it to her teacher — a desperate attempt to make someone listen. However, no one did.
Last week, the Class 4 student of the city’s prestigious Neerja Modi School jumped from the fourth floor of her school building. She died instantly.
Her parents allege relentless bullying, teasing, and verbal abuse — some with “sexual overtones” — that went unaddressed despite repeated complaints.
“I spoke to the class teacher, the coordinator, even during PTMs. They ignored me,” said Shivani. Her husband, Vijay, recalled an incident during a Parent-Teacher Meeting when some students giggled and gestured towards Amaiyra and another boy.
“She hid behind me in embarrassment,” he said. “When I raised it, the teacher said this is a coed school and she must learn to talk to boys. But it was her choice not to.”
CCTV footage reviewed by police shows Amaiyra approaching her teacher twice just before she jumped — moments that may hold the key to understanding her distress. Yet, there’s no sound. Despite CBSE guidelines mandating audio-enabled CCTV, the footage was silent.
Her uncle, Sahil, questioned how a school with over 5,000 students could have open floors without safety grills. “How did they get permission for such construction? And how can there be no audio or proper CCTV backup in such an expensive school?” he asked.
Police say they are investigating. “We’re recording statements and verifying every detail,” said Jaipur DCP Rajarshi Raj Verma. The education department has also stepped in to record the parents’ statements.
For the Meena family, though, no investigation can fill the silence left behind by Amaiyra’s absence — except, perhaps, the haunting echo of a child’s voice pleading not to be sent to school.
(Suicide is not a solution: If you are having suicidal thoughts, or are worried about a friend or need emotional support, someone is always there to listen. Call Sneha Foundation - 04424640050 (available 24x7) or iCall, the Tata Institute of Social Sciences' helpline - 9152987821, which is available Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 10 pm.)