Parents unhappy with police action

GHAZIABAD: The Ghaziabad police has not pressed murder and conspiracy charges in the death of 10-year-old student Anurag Bhardwaj, who succumbed to head injuries after hitting a pole while leaning out of his school bus.

The police had arrested both the bus driver and conductor, following the incident on April 20 and they were booked under Section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Last week’s incident in Modinagar sent shock waves among the local community. Bhardwaj was a class 4 student and a resident of Surat City in Modinagar.

While on the way to his school, Bhardwaj stuck his head out of the moving school bus and it hit the pole of a gantry gate near the Dayawati Modi Public School, where he studied.

The boy died while he was being rushed to a nearby hospital, police said.

Based on a complaint by the boy’s parents, the police filed an FIR against the bus driver, conductor and school officials under IPC Sections 302 (murder) and 120B (criminal conspiracy).

In her police complaint, Neha Sharma, mother of the deceased boy, alleged that her child was murdered due to the negligence of the school authorities.

The police arrested the driver and conductor on April 21.

“We produced them before the court and pressed charges under Section 304. We are still investigating the case and the role of others will be subject to a probe,” said Iraj Raja, superintendent of police (rural).

The boy’s sister studies in the same school in class 5.

“We will not allow her to attend the same school as she will be disturbed. On the day of the incident, she did not attend school as she was not well. The residents have supported our cause as we have been demanding action against the school officials. It is their responsibility to ensure that children reach safely,” said Swati Sharma, aunt of the deceased boy.

She said that local residents carried out a candle light march on Sunday in memory of Bhardwaj and three to four teachers visited their house to offer condolences.

“Apart from that, no other school official came to meet us. The police have so far not taken any action against the school officials and it has been our persistent demand since the day of the tragic incident. We have come to know from other children that right after the incident, the bus was taken to the school where he was given first aid. In fact, they should have taken him to a hospital at the earliest, considering the severe nature of the injuries. About 30-40 minutes was wasted and we lost our child,” Sharma added.

Police have not taken any action against the school officials. We will not allow Anurag’s sister to attend the same school.

SWATI SHARMA,

Anurag Bhardwaj’s aunt