FIR Filed Against Mariyappanapalya School Staff After Class 7 Student Attempts Suicide
A Class 7 student residing in Chikkabasti on Ramasandra Main Road allegedly attempted suicide by hanging at his home on Tuesday, following alleged physical assault and harassment by staff at St Philomena School in Mariyappanapalya. The Jnanabharathi police registered a First Information Report (FIR) on Wednesday against the school's administrative secretary, the principal, and two to three teachers.
The student, Kishore (name changed), studies under the Right to Education (RTE) quota at the school. According to the complaint filed by his father, Maheshkumar, Kishore was beaten by the school’s administrative secretary, Rangaswamy, the principal, and several teachers on July 14. The alleged physical assault left the boy with multiple injuries.
On Tuesday, Kishore returned home from school and allegedly attempted to end his life. Maheshkumar, who runs a grocery store, stated that he and his wife were at work when the incident occurred. Kishore's cousins, who had stepped out to buy chocolates, decided to check on him. Upon entering the house, they found Kishore hanging from a ceiling fan with his mother's saree. One child held his legs while the other ran to seek help. A neighbour rushed in, brought the boy down, and took him to the hospital.
Maheshkumar alleged that his son had been facing ongoing harassment at the school, with teachers frequently complaining that he was an average student. The father stated that he had previously consoled his son and promised to transfer him to another school after the academic year.
St Philomena School principal, Manjushree MK, stated she did not witness any physical assault by staff. She claimed that on Tuesday, Kishore got into a physical altercation with a classmate whom he suspected of tearing his Hindi project. The classmate sustained injuries, and the class teacher instructed Kishore to bring his parents to school on Wednesday. The principal added that Kishore had a reputation for being a naughty child and was upset because his classmates did not support him during the altercation.
The Jnanabharathi police have booked Rangaswamy, Manjushree MK, and the unnamed teachers under the Juvenile Justice Act and Section 115 (voluntarily causing hurt) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
