A class V student of Patha Bhavan at Visva-Bharati University, Shantiniketan was forced to drink her own urine as a punishment for wetting her bed, the child’s parents have alleged in a complaint to the authorities on Sunday. The university has formed a four-member committee to inquire into the incident. The committee has already met once and will submit its report within a week.
According to Poonam Mistry, the student’s mother, a warden of the university’s Karabi hostel had given this punishment when she found that the girl had wet her bed on Saturday. Ms. Mistry said her daughter informed her of the incident over telephone.
Panel formed
“A complaint from the parents of a class V student of Patha Bhavan has been received. The university has formed a four-member fact-finding committee headed by the former dean of student’s welfare,” Amrit Sen, the university spokesperson told The Hindu.
The parents of the girl had tried to create trouble at the university campus, Mr. Sen alleged. University officials claimed that the enraged parents of the child attacked the warden of the university hostel.
The parents said that they had also registered a police complaint in this regard.
NCPCR steps in
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has taken cognisance of the matter. It will seek a report from the State government, member of the Commission, Vinod Kumar Tikoo said. He said he himself had tried to ascertain the facts relating to the incident.
Counsel to media
Referring to certain television channels, where the footage of the student has been shown, Mr. Tikoo urged the media to morph the child’s pictures and not use her name in any report.
