Hit by a duster, minor dies

Eleven-year-old Babli Ghosh paid with her life for her inability to write the national anthem.

The standard VI student of Andal Girl’s High School at Burdwan district in West Bengal was hit on the head with a duster by teacher Rekha Bhagat, who lost her cool when the little girl fumbled while writing the national anthem on Thursday afternoon.

Babli lost consciousness and was rushed to a local hospital, but died on the way. Bhagat is absconding. 

On the basis of a complaint lodged by Babli’s guardians, the Andal police station filed a case of culpable homicide under Section 299 of the Indian Penal Code. A hunt is on to trace Bhagat, said the police.

Babli, who is from Barasat in North 24 Parganas district, was staying with her uncle at Andal.

Her death has caused a furore among local residents, especially parents of the students of Andal Girls’ High School. The guardians demonstrated in front of the school demanding Bhagat’s immediate dismissal and arrest.

Principal Tapati Bhattacharjee pacified the guardians and assured them of disciplinary action against Bhagat. She also announced that the school would  remain closed till Bhagat was arrested.

She said Bhagat left the school immediately after Babli fell unconscious and did not report on Friday.

The guardians said Bhagat had a track record of physically assaulting students for minor mistakes. The incident, they said, had made them jittery about the safety of their wards.