CIVIL society group Malaysian Tamilar Kural wants police to reveal the progress of its investigation into the case of M. Vasanthapiriya.

As the teen’s grieving family members demand justice, Malaysian Tamilar Kural president David Marshel said the police must reveal the progress of the probe.

“The girl’s uncle lodged a police report last Wednesday and the family was interviewed the next day for their statement.

 “But until today, nobody knows the progress. Even reporters have said they could not reach the police chief for comments,” he told reporters outside the Seberang Jaya Hospital mortuary.

Last Wednesday, the Form Two student of SMK Methodist Nibong Tebal tried to kill herself by hanging after a teacher accused her of stealing an iPhone.

After lying in coma for a week, she died early this morning.

Vasanthapiriya was allegedly reprimanded and hit by a teacher in front of her schoolmates after she denied stealing the phone. She was also allegedly locked in a room in the teachers’ office and then brought home by the accusing teacher and her husband to confront her parents.

Soon after reaching home, the teen hung herself in her room while her parents and her teacher went out to discuss the problem. Her parents found her alive but unconscious when they returned.

Family members said Vasanthapiriya’s classmates had told them the teacher was seen with her phone again the day after the incident.

“We want justice for the teen and her family. The police and the Education Ministry must reveal the status of the case.

“Why is there no response by the police until now? Vasanthapiriya’s name must be cleared,” David said.

“What has happened to the teacher? Is she still at the education department district office? Has she been questioned? Detained?

“We learnt that education deputy minister P. Kamalanathan visited the family recently and said appropriate action would be taken. But so far, there is nothing,” he said.

Attempts to contact Penang police chief A. Thaiveegan have gone unanswered since Monday. – February 1, 2018.