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Delhi girl dies after being punished by teacher

April 17, 2009 22:38 IST

An 11-year old schoolgirl, who was allegedly meted out severe corporal punishment by her school teacher, died on Friday at a hospital in New Delhi.

The girl was admitted to the hospital on Wednesday after Manju, a teacher, allegedly punished her for not answering some questions. 

Shanno, a class II student of MCD primary school in Bawana, was 'made to stand' in the sun with bricks on her shoulders allegedly. She breathed her last at Maharishi Valmiki Hospital in New Delhi today afternoon after battling for life for two days.

"She died in the hospital. We are investigating the case. A case under section 304 of the Indian Penal Code for culpable homicide not amounting to murder has been registered. We are awaiting the medical report of the girl," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer Delhi) Atul Katiyar said.

The National Commission for Human Rights has sought a report within four weeks from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi Commissioner. Amod Kanth, chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Child Rights said, "We have issued a notice to the principal of the school seeking an explanation as to what happened and why did it happen".

"The Commission has also written to the Commissioner of MCD, who is required to conduct an investigation into the matter and report back to us within seven days," Kanth said.

He said appropriate legal action will be decided upon after the MCD submits its report. Zaki Ahmed, a doctor who attended the girl, said that she told them that "two bricks were kept on her shoulders and then she was asked to stand in the sun for two hours, which she could not bear and started vomiting."

Her family claimed that the girl was asked to stand in the sun for two hours for not answering some questions.

"We want justice and no one should suffer something like this," the child's father Ayub Khan said. The MCD had on Thursday suspended principal Dhanpati and accused teacher Manju.

The civic body's commissioner K S Mehra also ordered the director of primary education section in the civic body to conduct an inquiry into the incident. Choudhury also said the authorities cannot 'abdicate' responsibility by just suspending the teacher.

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