Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 14 June 2025
Campbell Bay, the southernmost town of India in the remote Nicobar district, is grappling with shock and sorrow following the mysterious death of a 9-year-old boy, who was found hanging from the roof truss of a nearby house on the evening of 13th June 2025.
The incident took place near the Fisheries Ice Plant and Cold Storage in Campbell Bay. According to preliminary accounts, the boy—a student—was discovered hanging by a rope from the truss of the terrace of a building adjacent to his home. He was first found by his elder sister and his uncle, who reportedly brought the body down. With the help of two locals, the child was rushed to the local hospital on a motorcycle, where doctors declared him brought dead.
While the initial reports suggested suicide, the deeply disturbing nature of the case has ignited public skepticism and a growing belief among locals that the death may involve foul play.
Sources who were present at the scene during the police’s initial inspection told Nicobar Times that a solid cement block and a jerrycan were found near the spot where the boy was allegedly hanging. The presence of these objects has raised questions about the feasibility of a child of such a young age orchestrating a hanging in that manner.
The house where the incident occurred is owned by a businessman whose family is said to live mostly outside Campbell Bay. The building reportedly remains unoccupied for most of the time, and the only resident is usually away at work during the day. The terrace of the house is accessible via an external staircase, making it possible for anyone to reach it without entering the main house.
Following the discovery, police launched an investigation and conducted a forensic examination of the site. As of 14th June, the postmortem of the deceased boy is expected to be conducted, which may offer further clarity on the cause and circumstances of death.
Local residents have expressed disbelief over the possibility of suicide, citing the child’s age and developmental stage. “A nine-year-old child barely understands the finality of death, let alone plans and executes something as complex as a suicide,” said a resident who requested anonymity. Others echoed similar sentiments, demanding a thorough and transparent investigation.
Globally and in India, suicide among children below 10 years of age is exceedingly rare. Mental health experts note that children under 10 generally lack the cognitive maturity to comprehend death as irreversible. While there have been isolated instances of children mimicking suicidal behaviour—especially those exposed to trauma, abuse, neglect, or harmful content—such incidents remain anomalies.
The psychological and logistical complexity involved in suicide makes it statistically and developmentally improbable for a child of nine years to take such a step, especially without leaving behind signs of distress or intent.
The tragic incident has left Campbell Bay residents in mourning and confusion. The community now awaits answers—was this truly a tragic, rare suicide, or are there darker forces at play? The truth, they say, must come out.
As the postmortem report and forensic findings are awaited, one thing remains certain: a young life has been lost under deeply troubling circumstances, and a grieving community demands justice—be it for a child driven to an unfathomable act, or one who may have become the victim of a horrific crime.