Kolkata, Sep 12 (IANS) Even as angry parents Thursday ransacked a West Bengal school following the death of a Class 5 student after she was allegedly ragged, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee assured the victim’s family of action in the matter.
Oindrila Das, 10, a Class 5 student of Christ Church School in Dum Dum on the outskirts of the state capital, died Wednesday a week after she was allegedly locked up inside the school toilet by some of her seniors who demanded money from her.
Parents and relatives say the girl was killed by the trauma she suffered while being ragged in school.
“The chief minister today called up Oindrila’s mother and expressed shock and grief over the girl’s death, and assured proper action,” the victim’s uncle Alokesh Das said.
Meanwhile, a huge contingent of policemen had to be deployed near the school after irate parents and guardians ransacked it, demanding the arrest of the principal, alleging that she did nothing to save the girl.
Claiming that similar incidents have happened with other junior girls in the school, the parents and guardians accused the principal of inaction, despite full knowledge of the incidents. Those who laid siege to the school demanded that the principal be arrested, and that she be removed from the school.
“The principal is responsible for her death. She should be arrested,” one of the parents said, as others laid siege to the school premises.
Principal Helen Sarkar later issued an apology.
Following the ruckus, state Education Minister Bratya Basu ordered a probe into the matter.
“Whatever happened is shocking and we have ordered a probe into the circumstances which caused the unfortunate incident,” Basu said.
Meanwhile, Oindrila’s parents have demanded strict action against the girls who had locked up their daughter and also rubbished the school’s claim that the victim did not inform school authorities about the incident.
“The girls responsible for ragging her should be identified and strict action should be taken against them,” the parents said.
“I have lost my daughter. But at least her death has created awareness which will help save many little girls from the menace of ragging,” the victim’s father Santanu Das said.
