12-year-old Delhi schoolgirl dies under mysterious circumstances; family alleges teacher assault

NEW DELHI: A 12-year-old girl died under mysterious circumstances in east Delhi’s Pandav Nagar area, with her family alleging that she had been scolded and beaten by a teacher at a government school days before her condition deteriorated.The girl, a Class VII student, died on August 27 and was cremated by her family the same day.Police said the girl had a history of epilepsy and the circumstances surrounding her death are being examined.A PCR call was received at Kalyanpuri police station around 9.51am on Monday following allegations by the girl’s aunt that the child had been beaten by a teacher and subsequently died.During preliminary verification, police learnt that on July 22, the girl had allegedly been scolded by her class teacher for not bringing a school book and was asked to stand at the back of the classroom, according to the family’s allegations.The girl was reportedly unwell at the time, following which her family was called to the school and she was taken home.She was subsequently taken to IHBAS Hospital for treatment.The girl’s mother alleged that her daughter had been subjected to sustained distress following the incident.“My daughter was tortured in class, leading to her depression. No one from the school came to see her,” she told reporters.Police, however, said no complaint alleging beating or misconduct by the teacher was made during the nearly 40-day period between the alleged school incident and the girl’s death, or before her cremation.The present allegation was made subsequently through the PCR call and is being treated as a matter requiring detailed verification.Police are examining the allegations made by the family, the sequence of events following the alleged incident at school and the girl’s medical treatment.Her medical records are also being examined as part of the inquiry into the circumstances surrounding her death.BJP MLA from Patparganj Assembly constituency Ravindra Singh Negi said the family had also raised questions over the manner in which the girl was taken for medical care.He said, “The family has alleged that when the child had fallen ill, she was not rushed to the hospital. Instead, the parents were first called to the school. We have assured the family that an administrative investigation will be undertaken alongside police investigation.""The family has said that the child was unwell and her medical certificate had also been submitted in the school. She had also taken several medical holidays in the past months, then why was she not rushed to the hospital immediately?” Negi told the media.You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Delhi | Silver Rate in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi | Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Petrol Price in Delhi | Diesel Price in Delhi | CNG Price in Delhi | LPG Price in DelhiStay updated with the latest Delhi news. Download the TOI App.