Angry parents ransack Bengal school over girl’s death

Oindrila Das, 10, died a week after she was allegedly locked up inside the school toilet by some of her seniors

Angry parents ransacked a school in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district, on Thursday, demanding the arrest of the principal following the death of a Class 5 student, allegedly of trauma suffered, after being bullied in school.

Oindrila Das, 10, died a week after she was allegedly locked up inside the school toilet by some of her seniors who demanded money from her.

Irate parents and guardians ransacked the school, demanding the arrest and removal of the principal, alleging that she did nothing to save the girl.

Claiming that similar incidents have happened with other junior girls of the Christ Church Girls’ School in Dum Dum in the city’s outskirts, the parents and guardians accused the principal of inaction, despite full knowledge of the incidents.

“The principal is responsible for her death. She should be arrested,” one of the parents said, as others laid siege to the school premises.

Oindrila’s parents rubbished school authorities’ claims that the girl had not complained to them of her trauma, and accused Principal Helen Sarkar of inaction.

“The girls responsible for ragging her should be identified and strict action should be taken against them,” the parents said.

With the parents of the girl registering a police complaint against the school, a police team arrived at the school to question the authorities. As irate parents had already laid a siege outside the school, policemen found themselves unable to meet the principal.

“I have lost my daughter. But at least her death has created awareness which will help save many little girls from the menace of ragging,” the victim’s father Santanu Das said.