A 12-year-old girl has died after her teacher allegedly forced her to perform 100 sit-ups as punishment for arriving late to class. The incident occurred on November 8 at a school in Vasai, Maharashtra, India.
Kajal Gond, a sixth-grade student, was made to complete the exercise while wearing her schoolbag. She reportedly suffered severe back pain immediately after the punishment, which also involved other late-arriving children.
Her condition deteriorated at home, leading to hospitalisation in Nalasopara and later transfer to Mumbai’s JJ Hospital, where she died during treatment. Family members claim the punishment directly caused her health to decline.
“She was crying in pain and kept saying she could not move her back,” said her father, Sunil Gond. “No child should be treated this way for being late.”
Local residents and parents have demanded strict action against the teacher and school administration. Community activist Meena Patil said: “This is not discipline, it is cruelty. We send our children to school to learn, not to suffer.”
The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has warned that the school will remain closed until criminal charges are filed. Education advocates are calling for stronger enforcement of child protection laws and better teacher training.
