Child rights panel asks cops, DM to probe death of minor

DEHRADUN: State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR) has asked police and district magistrate to investigate the death of a 14-year-old boy from a missionary boarding school in Dehradun on Friday and submit a report within one week, officials said. This is the same school where a 12-year-old boy was allegedly beaten to death by seniors in March this year.

The incident came to light on Saturday when locals informed Usha Negi, the chairperson of SCPCR about the death of the young boy. Negi then wrote to senior superintendent of police in Dehradun and district magistrate of Dehradun to investigate the matter and submit a report within one week. Negi said, “We want to know what led to the death of this boy. He belongs to the same school where in March a 12-year-old was beaten up by seniors in hostel which led to his death. We demand a post mortem be done to find out if the school authorities are hiding anything.”

A senior police officer of Ranipokhri police station, on condition of anonymity said, “We have learnt from the hospital authorities that the child died due to failure of his respiratory system. He was suffering from pneumonia and was admitted to the hospital last week, but he died on Friday. His parents were present at the hospital to collect the body.”

The chairperson of SCPCR further said, “Last time, the school authorities tried to hide the real cause of death and said that the child died of food poisoning. We want a fair probe in this matter, as the authorities concerned might be hiding the real cause again.” A team from the state child rights body will visit the school and also the hospital on Monday. The police had not received a copy of the post mortem till the filing of this copy and no formal complaint has been registered.

In March, a 12-year-old student of the missionary school was beaten to death by two of his seniors after he allegedly stole a packet of biscuits from a nearby shop. As per police, the body of the class 7 student was then buried by the school management within the campus in a bid to cover up the incident. HTC

THE INCIDENT CAME TO LIGHT ON SATURDAY WHEN LOCALS INFORMED USHA NEGI, CHAIRPERSON OF SCPCR ABOUT THE DEATH OF THE YOUNG BOY