Bengaluru: The death of a 12-year-old Class 6 student at a residential school in Bengaluru has triggered protests by his family, who have alleged that the boy died after being assaulted by a physical education (PE) teacher. Police have detained the teacher for questioning and are awaiting the post-mortem report to determine the exact cause of death.
The incident occurred at Sterling English Residential School in Kadayarappanahalli on Wednesday. According to school authorities, the student, identified as Gurukiran, collapsed during the morning exercise session and was declared dead after being taken to hospital.
Parents allege assault by PE teacher
Gurukiran’s parents have alleged that their son was assaulted by the school’s PE teacher, identified as Narayana, shortly before he collapsed.
His father, Raghavendra, claimed that after reaching the hospital, the family was informed that the boy had died before being brought there.
He further alleged that after speaking to his son’s classmates, they were told that the teacher had beaten Gurukiran with a rod inside a washroom, struck him on the neck and later forced him to run two rounds of the school campus.
According to the family, the boy collapsed while running, and they believe the alleged assault led to his death.
These allegations have not been independently verified, and the police investigation is ongoing.
Family stages protest outside school
Following the incident, Gurukiran’s parents and relatives staged a protest outside the school, demanding action against those responsible.
The protest intensified as agitated family members and supporters gathered at the school premises. Police intervened after tensions escalated and reportedly carried out a mild lathi charge to disperse the crowd when some protesters allegedly attempted to confront the teacher.
The situation was later brought under control, and police maintained security around the school.
Teacher detained for questioning
Police have detained PE teacher Narayana for questioning as part of the investigation.
Officials said they are examining statements from students, school staff and other witnesses to establish the sequence of events leading to the student’s death.
Several classmates reportedly told members of the media that the teacher frequently punished students with sticks over minor issues. Police have not yet confirmed these claims.
Mother says boy had no health issues
Speaking to reporters, Gurukiran’s mother, Yeshaswini, said her son had spoken to her just days before the incident.
She recalled that he had called on Monday requesting a new school uniform and a new pair of shoes.
According to her, Gurukiran had joined the residential school the previous year and had resumed classes for his second academic year about a month ago.
Rejecting speculation that the boy may have suffered from an underlying medical condition, she said he was healthy, active and had no history of heart-related ailments or any serious illness.
Police await post-mortem report
Police said the exact cause of Gurukiran’s death will be determined after the post-mortem examination.
Investigators are awaiting the medical report, which is expected to clarify whether the death resulted from physical injuries, a medical condition or any other cause.
Officials stated that further legal action will be taken based on the findings of the post-mortem report and the evidence collected during the investigation.
The investigation remains ongoing, and police have appealed for restraint while the facts surrounding the incident are established.