Guwahati: A Class 9 student of a government school in Assam’s Darrang district died after he was allegedly beaten up by his seniors Monday morning. The incident took place on the premises of Padumpukhuri High School in Sipajhar town.
The deceased has been identified as, a resident of Senapati Para village in Darrang. The accused are Class 10 students of the same school, currently in police custody.
ThePrint reached Darrang Superintendent of Police (SP) Prakash Sonowal for comment over phone. This report will be updated if and when a response is received.
According to media reports, a scuffle took place outside Bhabesh’s classroom when he was asked to step out by the senior boys. Bhabesh was beaten up by the accused, and a blow to his ear rendered him unconscious, reports said.
On finding Bhabesh unconscious, school authorities first informed his parents, and then called for an ambulance, reports said. He was rushed to the local primary health centre and later taken to the Mangaldai Civil Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The incident has raised concerns not only over the safety of children in government schools, but also on the role of teachers. Bhabesh’s relatives, while speaking to local media, said such a thing would not have happened had the teachers intervened.
The relatives further said that just hours after the teen left for school Monday morning, they received a call from the school informing them of a fight between Bhabesh and a fellow student.
Bhabesh’s parents are inconsolable, while relatives and neighbours at their residence are demanding justice. “He was a very good boy, and never fought with anyone. He was respectful of his elders. What has been done can’t be undone, but we want justice. If the teachers were alert, this would not have happened. We are worried for our children,” said a relative.
Family members claimed Bhabesh was often bullied by the accused on his way to tuition, and had a brawl with them the evening before the incident, while he was out for a stroll. He returned home and told his father about it, and the latter intended to file a complaint with the school authorities the following day.
“The school had been ignoring the situation brewing for days. Bhabesh had been tormented by these senior boys many times. They had planned to attack him by the lakeside Sunday evening. We don’t know the reason for their conflict,” said another relative, adding: “His father wanted to accompany him to school Monday and speak with the management. But Bhabesh asked him not to escalate the situation, and to take it up only after the exams were over.”
An investigation has been launched by the school authorities into the circumstances leading to the incident. At present, Bhabesh’s body has been kept at Mangaldai hospital morgue, and is expected to be brought to Guwahati for post-mortem.
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)
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