The protest over the death of a Class-X girl student of a social welfare residential school near Kalaparru in West Godavari District turned violent on Wednesday. The parents and relatives of the victim went berserk, thrashing the school Principal Naduri Bharati and several others, damaging furniture and computers on the school premises.
Five school staffers were admitted in the local government hospital with grievous wounds. The issue flared up right in the presence of Eluru Revenue Divisional Officer Tej Bharat who was inquiring with the school authorities over the factors leading to her death at that time. Earlier, a large number of people from Ramaraogudem in Denduluru mandal, the victim’s native place, blocked the traffic on the Kolkatta-Chennai National Highway-5 along with the body seeking deterrent action against the school authorities.
The traffic on the busy highway came to a grinding halt for more than two hours. Collector Bhaskar Katamneni visited the government hospital where the body was placed for post-mortem examination and announced suspension of the Principal on the alleged grounds of dereliction of duties leading to the student’s death.
According to information, Kathe Rachana, Class-X student of the school was found dead in a hanging position close to her hostel room after the study hours on Wednesday. Incidentally, another girl Rukmini Bhai of the same class from Nagireddygudem in the district died under similar circumstances less than a month ago.
Kondala Rao, father of Rachana alleged that his daughter, a witness of Rukmini Bhai’s death, was `murdered by the same people fearing she would reveal their criminal act in future. Pedapadu police are investigating the case.
