The ‘mysterious’ death of a 15-year-old Dalit in a residential school in Bangarpet taluk of Kolar district has triggered a protest by his family.
On Wednesday night, the family was informed that Shankar, a class nine student of Field Marshal K.M. Kariappa Residential School, had been lethally electrocuted. He had allegedly touched an electric pole on the campus.
However, his family is not convinced and filed a complaint with the police.
What happened
N. Papanna and Sathish C., the teachers in charge on Wednesday night, were escorting the students to the hostel after dinner around 8.30 p.m.
Shankar, along with two other students, left the building telling the teachers that they would return in a few minutes. After a few minutes, the teachers heard someone scream. They went outside and found Shankar on the ground. He had allegedly touched a pole on which the metre board is fixed.
The teachers took Shankar to S.N.R. District Hospital in Kolar where doctors declared him brought dead.
Shankar’s father, Pushparaj, who works as a porter in KGF, filed a complaint with the Bangarpet police. Parents and relatives staged a protest in front of the mortuary of the hospital demanding a thorough enquiry into the death.
K. Sandesh, president, Ambedkar Seva Sangha-Karnataka, alleged, “The tragic death of Shankar was the result of gross negligence by the school management.”
The police have filed an FIR. “We are yet to ascertain if it is a case of foul play,” said Ramachandrappa, sub-inspector (crime), Bangarpet police station.
“Shankar was a bright student. We will provide relief to his family,” said M. Chandrashekhar, Secretary, Field Marshal K.M. Kariappa School. He told The Hindu that ₹50,000 will be given to the family.
