Jalandhar student’s suicide bid: CCTV footage ‘missing’

SCHOOL MANAGEMENT APPEARS BEFORE THE STATE COMMISSION FOR PROTECTION OF CHILD RIGHTS, BUT DOES NOT PROVIDE CCTV FOOTAGE, CLAIMING THAT IT IS WITH THE POLICE; THE DEPARTMENT ALSO CDENIES ITS POSSESSION

JALANDHAR: Eight days after a Class-10 student of Cambridge International School (Chhoti Baradari) jumped off the fourth floor of the school building on January 10, the closed circuit television (CCTV) camera footage has gone missing.

The school management, which appeared before the Punjab State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (PSCPCR), on Thursday after being summoned in connection with the incident failed to hand over the footage to the commission. School principal Deepa Dogra and director Deepak Bhatia appeared before the commission.

PSCPCR chairman Sukesh Kalia said, “Claiming that they had handed over the footage to the police, the representatives of the school did not provide the footage to us.”

He added, “We may summon the police to get the CCTV footage of the incident to examine the case.”

However, the commissionerate police also claim not to have the CCTV footage, saying that it was either with the school or the victim’s parents.

“As the victim’s parents didn’t wish to pursue the case, they have taken the CCTV footage from our SHO,” said Rajinder Singh, deputy commissioner of police (DCP) Jalandhar.

In a purported suicide note before making the leap during recess time around 12.40pm, the girl (name withheld) wrote, “I quit”. She is still critical. Her family is yet to record any statement with the police. Sources said the school management had requested the family not to pursue the case, on the plea that it would bear all medical expenses.

Meanwhile, witnesses claimed that the girl piled up chairs to get over the railing, and fell with the purported suicide note in her hand when the corridor was vacant. School rules mandate that two maids be present in the corridor at all times to ensure children’s safety.