A school teacher said the cause of death was unclear, noting, “One cannot say if it was due to the punishment.”
Students stand in queues after school hours at the Viqarunnisa Noon School & College after the government has withdrawn restrictions on educational institutions following a decrease in the number of cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Sept. 12, 2021. PHOTO: REUTERS
Mumbai schoolgirl dies after alleged corporal punishment; education authorities launch probe
A Class 6 student from a private school in Sativali, Palghar district, died in a Mumbai hospital on Friday, nearly a week after she was allegedly forced to perform 100 sit-ups for arriving late to school — a punishment her family says triggered a rapid decline in her health.
According to the girl’s mother, the child returned home on November 8 complaining of intense neck and back pain after she and four other students were ordered to do the sit-ups, reportedly while carrying their schoolbags. “She experienced severe pain and could not get up,” the mother said, calling the act an “inhuman punishment” that ultimately led to her daughter’s death.
According to Hindustan times, the family claims the child had pre-existing health issues, a point also echoed by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) members who visited the family. MNS leader Sachin More said the girl should not have been subjected to such physical exertion given her condition.
Education authorities have begun an inquiry. Block Education Officer Pandurang Galange confirmed that the probe is underway and will determine the exact cause of death. No police complaint has been filed yet.
A teacher from the school, however, maintained that the cause of death remains unclear: “One really does not know if she died due to it or otherwise.”
The girl’s mother said when she confronted the teacher, she was told the punishment was given because the students were late, and that parents often accuse teachers of not doing enough despite charging fees. The mother argued that disciplining students “does not mean forcing them to perform sit-ups with bags on their backs.”
The incident has sparked local outrage, reviving concerns over the use of corporal punishment in schools across Maharashtra. An official report is awaited.
