Cathedral student suicide case: FIR against principal, PT instructor

LUCKNOW: The family of Cathedral School’s Class 12 student , who shot himself with his father’s licensed revolver on Friday, lodged an FIR of abetment to suicide against the principal, Fr Melwyn Saldanha and physical training instructor (PTI), James John, with Madiaon police here on Saturday.

The boy, Lalit Yadav, 18, reportedly took the grave step only an hour after the principal scolded him for driving a bike and ramming into a rickshaw on Saturday morning. His family accused the principal of humiliating the boy and threatening to rusticate him from the school that prompted him to end his life.

“The boy’s father, Amar Nath Yadav, who is a head constable promotee with UP Police and posted in Lakhimpur Kheri, lodged the complaint . The FIR has been registered under IPC section 306 for abetment to suicide against the principal and PTI,” Nagesh Kumar Mishra, inspector of Madiaon police station, told HT on phone.

The deceased’s father accused the principal of humiliating the boy in front of other students that sent him into depression.

He said the school authorities should have waited as they had informed him and he had immediately asked Lalit’s mother to go to school and talk to the principal. He said the incident would have been averted if the boy was sent home with his mother, who was already on her way to school.

He also said the school principal’s hurried move resulted into the tragic incident.

The school management had said the principal informed the boy’s father, asking him to come to school but the latter expressed his inability as he was in Lakhimpur Kheri. The principal then sent the boy home with the PTI after morning assembly but seized his bike and mobile phone, telling him to bring his parents on Monday to get his belongings back.

The boy committed suicide soon after being dropped at home while Lalit’s mother was on her way to school . He shot himself in the temple with his father’s revolver after finding himself alone at home. He was found lying on the floor, bleeding profusely, when his mother returned home.

He was rushed to KGMU’s trauma centre but succumbed during treatment.

SCHOOL CLOSED ON MONDAY FOR CONDOLENCE

The Cathedral School will remain closed on Monday for condolence prayer service to be organised for their student, Lalit Yadav. The school management has decided to organise the service to pay homage to the departed soul .

The school management expressed deep sorrow and pain on the death of the boy. They stated that the loss was irreparable and the void that was created could not be filled. The management said the school has been closed for a day as mark of respect to Lalit.