Collector Asha Ajith consoles the family of the deceased student at Karaikudi in Sivaganga district on Saturday.

The headmaster of Government Higher Secondary School, Poyyavayal, Ganesan, has been placed under suspension following the death of a class IX student in the school on Friday.

K. Sakti Somiah, 14, son of Valarmathi and Kailasam, attempted to insert a plug into the socket to switch on the computer, when he was electrocuted and died. As news spread, his family members and relatives laid siege to the school. They entered into a wordy altercation with the teachers and also protested against conducting a post-mortem. Sakottai police registered a case.

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin expressed his condolences to the bereaved family and announced a solatium of ₹5 lakh. He also ordered the School Education Department to make sure that such lapses did not recur. Despite this, the relatives of the boy continued with their protests on Saturday.

Devakottai Sub-Collector Ayush Venkat Vats, DSP Parthiban, Tahsildar Raja and others held talks with the agitating family members. However, they refused to accept their assurances.

Minister K.R. Periakaruppan and Sivaganga Collector Asha Ajith visited the spot and consoled the family members. The Collector, who was visibly touched and grieved over the family’s loss, assured them assistance.

The Minister handed over a cheque of ₹5 lakh on behalf of the government. He also announced ₹2 lakh as his contribution and former MLA K.R. Ramasamy also handed over ₹2 lakh to the family members. BJP leader H. Raja and AIADMK MLA Senthilnathan offered their condolences.

Speaking to media persons, the Minister said the government would take adequate measures and ensure that such mishaps did not happen in the future. All educational institutions in the district would be screened and the installations would be checked.

After the post-mortem, the body was handed over to the family members, who wept uncontrollably. The boy’s mother, Valarmathi, said, “I prayed to the Almighty to give me a boy. After three daughters, he was born, but God has taken away my son from me so soon.”

Only last year, she lost her husband, her relatives said and that she was a daily wager with which the family survived.