Student in ICU after being ‘beaten’

MUMBAI: Avinash Gawande, 18, a Class 12 student of Abhinav Vidya Mandir (AVM) in Bhayander, is lying unconscious in an ICU after allegedly being beaten up by his college trustees. His crime, according to his family: he wasn’t wearing his ID.

“On Friday, at 7.30am, the security guard asked him to show the college ID. He told the guard that the ID was in his pocket,” said his father, Arjun. “But before he could put it on, Vishnu Patil, a college trustee punched him in the chest. Another trustee, Jagat Patil joined in and started hitting my son.”

Before he lost consciousness, Avinash called his younger brother Amit. “No one even bothered to help Avinash,” Amit said.

Avinash was rushed to Kasturi Memorial Hospital. “Though there is no visible injury, he is probably suffering from depression,” said Dr Rajeev Agarwal, paediatrician at the hospital.

When contacted, Prafull Patil who is the executive chairman of AVM denied the allegations. “The student misbehaved and was asked to sit at the security cabin. No one laid hands on him.”
 
A non-cognisable complaint has been registered against the two trustees at the Mira Road police station.
With inputs by Prmaod Thakur
 
r_priya@dnaindia.net