MADIKERI: A
viceprincipal, two teachers and three other staffers of
Sainik School, Kudige, near Kushalnagar, Kodagu district, have been booked after a class 9 student was found dead in a
washroom on the campus on Saturday evening. NP Chingappa was found dead in the school washroom, which is connected to the laboratory. The boy’s father, Naganda T Poovaiah of Moovathokluvillage in Somwarpet taluk, also works in the same school as hockey coach.
In his complaint, Poovaiah accused vice-principal Seema, computer teacher Govindaraja, Kannada teacher GK Manjappa, administrative officer D Mathew and warden Sunil, of abusing his son.
The cause of death will be known when postmortem is conducted on Monday.
SAINIK SCHOOL DEATH
Student’s father accuses teachers of harassment
A case of murder was registered against them after an uproar and a protest on Sunday morning, when the body was brought to the mortuary. Family members and the public, including Kodava Samaja members, staged a protest and stopped the postmortem, demanding action against the school.
MLCs Sunil Subramani, Veena Achaiah and SP Rajendra Prasad tried to pacify the mob. Sunil called up Mysuru-Kodagu MP Prathap Simha, who, in turn, took up the issue with defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The MLC conveyed the minister’s message that action would be taken against the persons concerned. Following this, the SP gave the green signal to register the murder case.
Kushalnagar police inspector Kyathegowda said the postmortem report is expected on Monday.
SP Rajendra Prasad said the school management told police that a poisonous solution used in the lab was found inside the washroom where Chingappa was found. He was taken to hospital in an ambulance, where he was declared brought dead. Poovaiah has alleged that the teachers were abusing Chingappa physically and mentally. “Recently, my son Chingappa had told me that Govindaraja, Manjappa, D Mathew and Sunil were troubling him. I was shocked to hear about this harassment and I met vice-principal Seema and requested her to take action against these persons, which was ignored by her. Instead of protecting my son from the harassment, she abused me and ignored my appeal,” read Poovaiah’s complaint.
What school says
Cadet Chingappa NP, Roll No. 739, a student of Class 9 of Sainik School, Kodagu, was declared brought dead to the Primary Health Centre, Kudige, at 8pm on June 23. Earlier in the day, the cadet was counselled by teachers for an act of indiscipline. Later in the evening, the cadet was found unconscious in the school washroom from where he was taken to Kudige hospital. Police investigation is in progress and the school is rendering all support to the department.
(Representative image)