A 12-year-old Class 6 student died under suspicious circumstances at a residential school in Karnataka's Bengaluru on Wednesday, triggering protests by his family and local residents, who demanded swift action against the school management.
The deceased, identified as Guru Kiran, was a student at Sterling English Residential School in Devanahalli. According to the school, the boy suddenly collapsed while jogging on the campus and was immediately taken to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared him dead before his parents could arrive.
The family has alleged that Guru Kiran's death may have been the result of physical assault by teachers and excessive pressure at the school. However, the allegations have not been verified by the police, and the exact cause of death will be determined after the investigation and post-mortem examination.
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Guru Kiran's father, Raghavendra, said he had admitted his son to the hostel after he completed Class 5 and that the child had never complained about any issues at the institution. "The school authorities called me around 6.45 am and informed me that Guru Kiran had collapsed while jogging. When I asked what had happened, they said his pulse had dropped but told me not to worry, assuring me he was fine. By the time I reached the hospital, he had already passed away," he said.
Questioning the circumstances surrounding his son's death, Raghavendra said he found it difficult to believe that an otherwise healthy Class 6 student could suddenly collapse without any apparent reason.
"I don't think there was any reason for him to suddenly die in the hostel. When I saw him at the hospital, I felt something must have happened inside the school. Maybe he was beaten or assaulted. I don't know exactly what happened, but I suspect someone may have attacked him from behind," he alleged.
Following the student's death, the situation turned tense outside the school as relatives and local residents gathered in protest, demanding justice. During the agitation, the crowd allegedly assaulted the school warden and surrounded the campus, insisting that those responsible be held accountable. Guru Kiran's father also stopped a police vehicle, accusing the school authorities of being responsible for his son's death.
Police have deployed additional personnel outside the school to maintain law and order while an investigation is underway to establish the sequence of events and determine the exact circumstances that led to the student's death.
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