A 12-year-old girl has died after being beaten and scolded by her teacher, her family alleged. The girl died on August 27, more than a month after an alleged incident at her school in East Vinod Nagar, India.
Family's Allegations
“My daughter was tortured in class, leading to her depression. No one from the school came to see her when she was unwell,” the girl’s mother claimed. Her family said that she was beaten and scolded in class for not carrying a book, and then asked to stand at the back of the classroom when she was unwell on July 22, reports the Times of India.
She subsequently fell ill and deteriorated. The school then called her family, who took her home before taking her to hospital. Police said the girl had a history of epilepsy.
Inquiry Ordered
The Delhi Government has ordered an inquiry into her death, and police are examining the sequence of events following the alleged incident, the family's allegations, and the girl’s medical records.
Education minister Ashish Sood said the teacher has been transferred with immediate effect to ensure the investigation can be conducted fairly and without interference. Sood said the matter was being treated with the "utmost seriousness and sensitivity", and assured strict action if the inquiry found any negligence.
Police Response and Context
Police added that they received no complaint against the teacher between the alleged incident and the girl’s death on August 27. The family approached Kalyanpuri police station with the allegations on Monday, after the girl was cremated. According to a Delhi government official, the education director has met the head of the school in connection with the matter.
This comes a few weeks after another alleged incident at a school in India, whereby a boy died after reportedly being slapped by a teacher for not finishing his homework. The child, a student in the lower kindergarten class, is said to have become frightened, started crying and coughing, and then collapsed while at school, according to his family. The alleged incident was captured on CCTV at a private school in Andhra Pradesh, India.
