Two Mumbai teachers held for death of three students

Police suspect that the boys, who were allegedly beaten by the teachers, tried to flee the school

Following the death of three students of the Vagad Gurukul International School in Virar, Thane police have arrested two teachers of the boarding school. Ripusudan Shivkumar and Sandeep Palwa have been arrested for abetment to suicide under the Indian Penal Code and certain sections of the Juvenile Justice Act. Mr. Shivkumar teaches Sanskrit while Mr. Palwa was the Physical Training instructor at the school.

According to the police, Khushal Dagha, Meet Chhadwa and Praful Patel, all 14-year-old students of Class IX, went missing from the Vagad Gurukul International School in Virar, on the outskirts of Mumbai, on Monday night. On Wednesday, their bodies were found floating in the nearby Sukh river by the locals, who informed the police.

The police suspect that the boys, who were allegedly severely beaten by the teachers on Monday, may have run away from the the school fearing a repeat of the punishment on Tuesday. According to the police, the boys escaped through a small hole in the school’s makeshift compound wall. The Sukh river is around 500 metres from the school.

Injuries on arms

The preliminary post-mortem reports are inconclusive. The reports, however, state that there were injuries due to a blunt object on the arms of the boys. The police have now sent the viscera samples for chemical analysis.

“The viscera report will help us to ascertain whether it’s suicide, homicide or accident,” Additional Superintendent of Police Shrikrishna Kokate told The Hindu .

The police have also recorded the statements of the parents, other students and the staff. Four other students have reportedly told the police that the boys, who were severely beaten by Mr. Shivkumar on Monday, were planning to escape. These students kept tabs on the three boys but the latter gave them the slip.

The students also told the police that Mr. Shivkumar had threatened to punish them on Tuesday also. Mr. Sandipallegedly used to cane students who fared poorly in their academics.

“The families allege that the two teachers might have nabbed them while they were fleeing and beaten them to death and thrown their bodies in the river. There is also a possibility that the boys may have attempted to swim across the river and drowned. We are probing all angles,” Mr Kokate added.