Kolkata police on Wednesday stated that they have finished questioning all three teachers mentioned in a negligence FIR filed after the death of a class 3 student, Ayush Kumar Nath, at a private school in Bansdroni on Sunday. The teachers include the principal, a science teacher, and a managing committee member.
Parents Express Anger Over Lack of Arrests
Ayush's father, Ashish Kumar Nath, and his mother expressed anger that none of the school authorities have been arrested yet. Ashish said, "The way police handled the matter, we felt those three would be arrested but nothing happened. Police are not cooperating with us."
Documents Sought by Police
Officers mentioned they have requested several documents from the school. "We will seek some documents from the child's parents, too," an officer stated. The requested documents include the school's standard operating procedure (SOP) for handling a sick child, guidelines for teachers when dealing with student problems, the child's health records from all hospitals including SSKM where the boy was admitted before his death, and the boy's medical file if available.
Post-Mortem Report Pending
"We tried getting the final post-mortem report on Wednesday but it may take a couple of more days. It will be important evidence," the officer added.
Sequence of Events
Police revealed that the science teacher questioned was the one Ayush first approached on May 13, complaining of feeling unwell during the first period. The other two were the principal and a managing committee member, though the school did not confirm this. Ayush reportedly fell ill at school on May 13, a day before the vacation began. His father alleged that the school, led by the science teacher, failed to inform them about the child's discomfort and made Ayush wait until dispersal, asking him to sit with his "head down" in a spot where sunlight fell on his face.
Initial Investigation Findings
According to police, initial questioning suggested that the first response to Ayush's illness was that he might have fallen ill due to antibiotics. In CCTV footage, police saw Ayush walking out holding his father's hand. "We visited each of the four-five hospitals the child was taken to and learned he had a tumor. At IRIS Hospital, we went through the CT scan. The child died on Sunday. We lodged a negligence case," a police officer said.
School's Statement
The school issued a statement saying, "In school hours, he appeared normal and fit. But at the time of dispersal, he complained of feeling unwell. The school immediately attended to him with utmost care and concern and thereafter handed him safely to his father, who took him home along with his brother." The statement added that the school is ready to cooperate with the law to establish the truth and reveal the intentions of those defaming them. They urged students and parents not to heed or circulate unverified information.
