“Anonymous calls from many persons over the last two days are haunting us,” C. Krishnakumar (34), father of seven-year-old Shyam Sunder who was hospitalised on Friday after he was reportedly beaten by his teacher and two others in the private school.
The boy was studying in class II in the school at Old Sooramangalam run by Priya Easwaran, wife of a former Superintendent of Police.
He was reportedly beaten up on Thursday for allegedly using of a bad word. With multiple cane injuries on his back and legs he was admitted in the Salem Government Super Speciality Hospital on Friday. The boy’s aunt S. Shenbakam told The Hindu that the callers claimed that they were policemen, police officials and politicians from Chennai and other parts of the State. “A few of them even came to the hospital and tried to influence us, following which the boy was removed to the house from the hospital,” she added.
Recalling that some callers suggested to them that they settle for a compromise with the school management, she said others threatened that the boy’s education would be affected if the parents refused to drop the issue. “Claiming that those who are running the school are highly influential persons, they are asking us to withdraw the complaint”, she added.
They said that the boy was slowly recovering from the multiple blood clots on his back and legs. “However, he is frightened and does not want to go to school,” they said, adding that they were determined to fight till they got justice. District Child Protection Officer, Department of Social Defence, A. Devaki said that the Sooramangalam Police who recorded the statement of the boy and his parents in the hospital on Friday were yet to register an FIR. However, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Salem City) promised her that a FIR would be registered shortly.