Victim cremated amid high security; anger, fear, grief mark ceremony

eight-year old boy, who was murdered in Bhondsi’s Ryan International School on Friday, was cremated amid high security on Saturday.

His body was taken to his home in Shyam Kunj, 14 km from Gurgaon, amid tears, anger and grief. The mother of the victim, and other female relatives had a glimpse of the boy at home before he was taken to the crematorium on Sohna road for final rites around 1.15pm.

The family of the victim had agreed to take the victim’s body only after senior officials of the police department assured them that the accused and other responsible for negligence would not be spared. Fearing violent protests from the residents of the area, the police had thrown a large security blanket around the school and the cremation ground.

Parents of school-going children, neighbours and community members from Bihar, who had gathered at the victim’s home, shouted slogans against the school management, police and district administration. The victim’s family hails from Madhubani in Bihar.

“The school management is responsible for this murder and they should be arrested. There have been similar incidents in this school in the past as well but everything was brushed under the carpet,” said Rajesh Kumar, a neighbour, whose children also study in the same school.

The women in the neighbourhood, particularly those whose children go to the same school were shocked, and said that their children had not been able to eat since Friday evening.

“How will we tell the children to go to school in such circumstances. My daughter has not allowed us to switch on the television as news about the murder is being telecast,” said Rekha Sharma, another parent.

State PWD minister Rao Narbir Singh and Sohna MLA Tejpal Tanwar also reached the cremation ground to offer their condolences to the family, while assuring strict action against the school.