A Class 11 student died by suicide after jumping from the third floor of a private school on Ghazipur Road in Dabua Colony, Faridabad, on Tuesday, with her family alleging that she had been subjected to prolonged punishment by a teacher.
The incident took place around 1pm. School staff rushed the student to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared her dead.
The girl’s father alleged that a teacher had punished her by making her stand outside the classroom for around four hours, leaving her humiliated. He said his daughter had been doing well academically and otherwise had no apparent problems.
“There was no issue at all; in every way she was doing well, even in studies she was fine. I asked the children and they said that the teacher had made her stand for four hours outside the classroom,” he said.
According to police, the family also claimed that the teacher had scolded the girl for going out to eat biryani without informing anyone. Her father further alleged that some students had been involved in a dispute over lunch, but that his daughter had played no part in it and was nevertheless punished.
The school principal, however, rejected the allegation that the student had been made to stand for four hours. He said she had asked for permission to use the washroom before jumping from the building.
“It is not possible that she had been punished for four hours. She had sought permission to go to the washroom after which she jumped,” the principal told TOI.
Police said the family had not yet filed a formal complaint. SHO Dabua Sumer Singh said appropriate action would be taken once a complaint was received.
The conflicting accounts have left the circumstances surrounding the student’s death under investigation, with police expected to examine statements from the family, teachers and students before determining the next course of action.
