Justice protest at Bansdroni school after class 3 boy’s death

Kolkata: Even as police on Tuesday said a case of negligence was initiated at the Netaji Nagar Police Station following the death of a class 3 boy at a private school in Bansdroni, a large number students and their parents staged a protest outside Maharishi Vidya Mandir , demanding justice.The demonstration started around 10.30 am and continued till well past noon. The protesters accused the school authorities of negligence that led to Ayush Kumar Nath's death. BJP Tollygunge MLA Papiya Adhikari joined the protest and assured the protesters of a fair investigation. She said the current school management should be expelled.A police officer pointed out the post-mortem report would be vital. "We expect the post-mortem report on Wednesday," said a Lalbazar officer.Ayush reportedly fell ill at school on May 13, a day before the vacation began. His father, Ashish Kumar Nath, alleged the school, led by the child's science teacher, not only did not inform them about him feeling unwell but also made him wait until classes got over. Police said a summons had been sent, asking the science teacher to join the investigation. Ashish claimed his child was asked to put his head down for six periods and made to sit at a place, where the sun fell on his face. After class, Ayush's friends helped him outside but he was forced to carry his bag when he could barely stand, the father alleged, adding the boy fell down the stairs, resulting in severe brain haemorrhage. Ashish said the child was unconscious when he spotted Ayush, and his teacher was slapping him to revive him. The father admitted Ayush to hospital, where he went into a coma. He died at SSKM on Saturday.Ashish, who lodged a complaint at the Netaji Nagar PS, alleged the school refused to talk to him until police visited the campus on May 21 to collect CCTV footage. Police said they received a complaint from the family on May 13, which stated the child was in school when he fell ill, that there was negligence by school as the sick child was forced to carry the bag down the stairs, leading to his fall. Police said as there was no injury on the child, they initiated a case under Section 75 of the Juvenile Justice Act. CCTV footage of the school corridor and main gate showed the child going downstairs around 11.45 am, after classes got over, an officer said. Police claimed the footage showed a helper holding his bag and that no image could establish the child's fall. Teachers and others, whose statements were collected, said he lost consciousness.Police said the initial response was that Ayush fell ill as he had a lot of antibiotics. Police said they found a subsequent CCTV footage, showing the child walking out, holding his father's hand. "We visited each of the four-five hospitals the child was taken to and learnt he had a tumour. At IRIS Hospital, we went through the CC scan. The child died on Sunday. We lodged a negligence case," said a police officer.The school issued a statement that said, "In school hours, he appeared normal and fit. But at the time of dispersal, he complained of feeling unwell. The school immediately attended to him with utmost care and concern and thereafter, handed him safely to his father, who took him home along with his brother." The statement added the school was ready to cooperate with the law so that the truth was established, and the intention and people defaming them were revealed. They urged students and parents not to heed or circulate unverified information.