School owner, principal booked for boy’s death

Tribune News Service

Rohtak, February 6

A day after the death of 13-year-old Nikhil on the school premises, the police has registered a case against the owner and principal of the local Manav Rachna Global School under sections 304-A (causing death by negligence) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the IPC. However, none of them has been named.

Shivaji Colony SHO Inspector Dilbagh Singh said an FIR against the school owner and principal had been registered on the basis of a complaint lodged by Kavita, the child’s mother. Asked about the school principal and owner, the SHO said the principal had been identified as Dharamvir but he expressed ignorance about the owner.

Officiating SP Mohit Handa said he would ask the DSP supervising the police station to look into it.

Nikhil, a student of Class VIII and son of BSF official Kuldeep, was killed while playing in the school playground yesterday after a pole of the football goalpost fell on him. He was rushed to the Rohtak PGIMS, but could not be saved.

In her police complaint, Kavita said her family found that the pole was placed at the playground instead of being installed or hammered into the ground. “Had the pole been installed or fixed properly, the mishap would not have taken place. The owner and the principal of the school are responsible for this gross negligence and carelessness on their part. Hence, strict legal action should be taken against them,” she said.

Principal Dharamvir could not explain how the pole fell on Nikhil. He said some schoolchildren were playing during the recess yesterday and the pole accidentally fell on Nikhil.

‘Negligence killed him’

• Class VIII student Nikhil was killed after a pole of the goalpost fell on him
• Principal Dharamvir said some children were playing and the pole accidentally fell on Nikhil
• Nikhil’s mother Kavita said the pole was placed at the ground instead of being installed or hammered into the ground
• Blaming the school for negligence, she said had the pole been fixed properly, the mishap would not have taken place