As news spread of 17-year-old G. Vishwas drowning in a temple pond, the parents of students of National College, Jayanagar, gathered outside the campus to protest against the “irresponsible actions” of the management.
Vishwas, along with 20 students, had gone to Ravagudlu, in Kanakpura, in the outskirts of the city on Saturday for a trekking trip accompanied by their National Cadet Corps (NCC) coordinator Girish and five alumni. However, students allege that Girish was not present when Vishwas drowned in the pond. The police are yet to question Girish, who they believe is absconding.
Angry parents said they had very little information about the two-day trip. The college management, however, said they were unaware of the trek and that no permission had been taken.
Describing the trek as a “social service” outing, a student who was part of the group, said: “We finished our farm work and later, went trekking and then took some time off to relax. The place was slippery and four other students slipped into the pond but we managed to pull them out of the water. We had no idea when Vishwas got into the pond. It was only two hours later, when we took a headcount, that we realised what must have happened.”
S.N. Nagaraja Reddy, secretary, National Education Society of Karnataka, said the college had ordered an enquiry against Girish.
“The coordinator did not take permission from the college management or the principal and there was no need to take students on any trip. Girish claims that he took them as part of the Swachh Bharat programme, but we are unable to verify this,” said Mr. Reddy.
Abdul Rasheed, Deputy Director of Pre-University, Bengaluru (South), said the Department of Pre-University Education also plans to issue a show cause notice to the college for negligence.
Vishwas wanted to join the Army
Friends and classmates of Vishwas said he was an enthusiastic student and was keen on joining the Army. “He was extremely regular in all the NCC activities,” his friend said. He added that Vishwas did not know how to swim.
