Boy dies after ‘torture’ at school

A schoolboy, who was allegedly forced to do more than 300 sit-ups in a day as punishment for being talkative in a class, died while undergoing treatment for exhaustion in old city on Thursday. Terming the punishment as “most inhuman”, the aggrieved family members maintained that the boy had a rod implanted in one of his legs after he had sustained a fracture in an accident in Dubai a few years ago.

The death of Mohammed Ismail (14) triggered violent protests from his kith and kin at Royal Embassy High School in Madannapet. Police had a tough time in placating the relatives who went on the rampage on the school premises. Subsequently, a case of rash and negligent act leading to death (under section 304A of IPC) against the teacher was registered and an autopsy done on the body.

Ismail, a Class X student, was a resident of Hashamabad near Chandrayangutta, and a student of the school located at Madannapet. On September 4, one of his teachers noticed him speaking to others during a class. “The punishment for being talkative was nearly 300 sit-ups throughout the day,” his father Mohammed Siddique Hussain said.

The tired boy complained of body-ache and was given some medication, but to no avail. “We rushed him to Harmain Hospital at Falaknuma. As his condition did not improve there, we shifted him to Deccan College of Medical Sciences near Charminar, and later, to Princess Durru Shehvar Hospital at Purani Haveli where he died on Thursday.

“It is clear my boy died because of the inhuman punishment. Police should take stern action against the teacher,” said Mr. Hussain who broke down while speaking to media at the police station. He also alleged that a similar kind of tragedy had occurred in the school a few months ago.

When hundreds of people gathered at Ismail’s house, the police had to move in additional contingents to make sure the situation did not go out of control.