The family of Roshan Lama -- the 11-year-old boy who is being treated at the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences here for the head injury that he sustained after being accidently hit by a javelin in his school two days ago -- was on Thursday joined by Roshan’s schoolmates in demanding action against all those responsible for the alleged negligence that caused the mishap.
A large number of students from the Sarvodaya Government School in Chittaranjan Park, where the victim is enrolled in Class VI, gathered outside the school and the neighbouring roads alleging that Sunil Sharma, the physical instructor who has been arrested for negligence, has a record of misbehaving with students. Joined by some of Roshan’s relatives, they also demanded that action be taken against the principal of the school as well.
During the protest that lasted for a couple of hours, the students damaged vehicles including cars parked outside the school and some even pelted stones on vehicles passing by. They targeted the school compound and vandalised paintings and flower pots kept there.
ADVERTISEMENT
Besides raising slogans against the school management and the police, carrying posters with “Justice for Roshan” , the students also accused some of the other teachers of coming to the class under the influence of alcohol. The school, authorities, denied these charges.
The protesters said they had planned to protest on Wednesday itself but as the school was closed on account of Gandhi Jayanti, the authorities were not present there.
“When the students were practicing javelin throw, there was no teacher or support staff to monitor. Even after Roshan was hit by the spear, there was no immediate response from the staff members to attend to him,” said one of them. Area residents, who were stuck in the traffic, bore the brunt of the angst of the students.
ADVERTISEMENT
“A large number of students blocked the road opposite Nehru Apartments and did not allow any vehicles to pass through. All of them were in uniform and tried to block traffic in every way possible. They were throwing stones at the vehicles and even heckled the people driving them. Forward movement obstructed, some of them tried to reverse the vehicle but were stopped from the other side as well leading to chaotic situation on the road,” said a resident of C.R. Park.
The policemen who visited the spot tried to pacify the students and assured them of swift action against all those involved and managed to bring the situation under control by 3 p.m.
Roshan continues to remain critical at the intensive care unit of the hospital and his father Surajbhan was told by the doctors at AIIMS said that chances of his son’s survival were very bleak.
“We are hoping for a miracle,” he said.