Bengaluru: Tension gripped a residential school near Devanahalli on Bengaluru’s northern outskirts after a 12-year-old student died under suspicious circumstances, triggering protests by parents and relatives who alleged that he was assaulted by a physical education (PE) teacher.
The deceased, Gurukiran, was a Class 6 student at Sterling English Residential School in Kadayarappanahalli. According to his family, school authorities informed them over the phone that the boy had fallen ill and had been admitted to a hospital. However, by the time his parents reached the hospital, he had already passed away.
Family alleges assault by PE teacher
The boy’s family has accused PE teacher Narayana of physically assaulting Gurukiran during the school’s morning drill. According to one of the victim’s classmates, Gurukiran had gone to the toilet before the scheduled exercise session at around 5.30 am. The student alleged that the teacher beat him before forcing him to run two rounds of the school ground, during which he collapsed.
The classmate further claimed that the teacher frequently punished students with sticks and rods for minor mistakes, locked them inside rooms and subjected them to physical abuse. He also alleged that the quality of food served at the hostel was poor.
Protests erupt outside school
Following the boy’s death, angry parents and relatives allegedly assaulted the PE teacher. Police from Bagalur station rushed to the school, rescued the teacher and shifted him to safety after protesters demanded he be handed over to them.
Some protesters reportedly threatened to set the teacher on fire and arrived carrying petrol, prompting police to resort to a mild lathi-charge to disperse the crowd. Demonstrators also blocked the police vehicle and staged a sit-in protest before senior police officers brought the situation under control.
Police begin investigation
Based on a complaint filed by Gurukiran’s father, Raghavendra, Bagalur police have registered a case and launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the student’s death.
The boy’s cousin, Yeshaswini, said Gurukiran had resumed classes just a month ago and had spoken to his mother two days earlier, asking her to buy a karate uniform and a new pair of shoes. She maintained that he was healthy and had no history of heart-related ailments, rejecting suggestions that he may have suffered a cardiac episode while running.
Police said further action will be taken based on the findings of the investigation and the post-mortem report.