Hindustan Times (Jalandhar)

Class 11 boy found dead in JNV school, parents allege murder

- HT Correspond­ent letterschd@hindustant­imes.com

JAWAHAR NAVODAYA VIDYALAS ARE A SYSTEM OF ALTERNATE SCHOOLS FOR GIFTED STUDENTS. PRIYAM’S FATHER IS A FARMER. HE HAD ACHIEVED 10 CGPA IN CLASS 10, AND WANTED TO BE A DOCTOR.

ROHTAK: A Class 11 boy at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Kaloi village of Jhajjar was found dead under mysterious circumstan­ces in his hostel on Monday. The deceased has been identified as Priyam Dhankar, 15, a resident of Karontha village in Rohtak.

Priyam’s roommate said they heard a loud noise of someone falling from the roof on Monday night. When they checked, they found Priyam unconsciou­s. Priyam’s family has alleged that he was murdered by his roommates, “who would often steal his money and personal belongings.” The deceased had joined the school in July last year. After the winter break, he was dropped back to the hostel by his uncle on Monday evening. However, later that night, the family received a call from school that their son was in a serious condition and had been admitted to the civil hospital. When the family reached, they found their son had died.

Initially, his roommates and school authoritie­s maintained that he was killed after falling from the hostel building. However, on Tuesday, his roommates reportedly changed their statement during the interrogat­ion. Sources said his classmates told police that they had gone for dinner to a hotel on Monday night, where Priyam met with an accident. They then dragged him back to the hostel, and staged the falling incident “to avoid responsibi­lity.” The family alleged his roommates killed him and dumped him from the rooftop. “I’m a nurse and I have seen the postmortem reports. It is clear he did not die of accident,” said Susheela, Priyam’s aunt. Priyam’s father, Parminder said, “He had complained of his belongings, including money getting stolen and of his roommates taking drugs. It is clear that they killed him and are now changing statements in nervousnes­s to hide truth.” Jhajjar SP Satheesh Balan said the school boys had changed their statements. “We are probing all the angles. There is a lot of informatio­n coming in, and we will be able to comment only after the investigat­ion is complete,” he said. The police have registered a case against the school for negligence. The principal of the school, Ombir, said the wardens had gone home after the students had dinner. “What happened is shocking. The police is conducting investigat­ion,” he said. Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalas are a system of alternate schools for gifted students. They are run by Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti,anautonomo­usorganisa­tion under the ministry of HRD. JNVs are fully residentia­l and co-educationa­l schools affiliated to CBSE, New Delhi, with classes fromClass6­to12.

 ??  ?? Priyam Dhankar
Priyam Dhankar

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