Gurgaon school murder: Shocked parents question lack of security, demand swift justice

The murder of eight-year-old, Class 2 student of Ryan International School at Bhondsi on Friday spread panic among parents across the city.

Parents, most of who appeared to be shocked by Friday’s incident, said though schools in the city often charged hefty fees from them, there was no guarantee of safety for their kids. Two groups of parents later also staged protests at the school and at the police commissioner’s office to demand justice for the murdered boy.

On Friday, students at Ryan International School also said they were under trauma and refused to attend classes.

Parents said there was no safety for the children on the campus and every day something new and gruesome has been popping up.

“Someone was carrying a knife to school and that too in the toilet with the intention of committing a murder. This is a serious issue. Where was the school staff who are supposed to monitor the CCTV control room”, said Raj Kumar Yadav, a parent.

Parents alleged that the school security guidelines clearly state access to areas like bus area, gym, swimming pools, sports rooms/fields, canteen, toilets was to be confined to people whose presence in the area is required.

“Loitering in such specific areas by unauthorized people should have been checked. But nothing was done and children are falling victims to such crimes,” added Sameera Satija, a resident of Sector 14 and a parent.

“Can you imagine the trauma of the child? The incident could have been prevented if proper security guidelines issued by Gurgaon Police in 2014 had been enforced by the district administration”, said Ruchika Sethi Takkar, a volunteer for formulating the School safety guidelines.

Parents protest

A group of parents, along with some local Purvanchali residents, staged protests at the school and at the police commissioner’s office demanding justice on Friday.

The boy was found with his throat slit near a school toilet on Friday morning. The parents, friends and relatives of the victim demanded action against the school management and arrest of people responsible for negligence that led to the murder of the young boy.

Although the school authorities said they called the police and rushed the boy to a private hospital, parents said they were angry over the lackadaisical behaviour and the negligence that led to the murder.

Around 1:20pm on Friday, more than 50 protesting parents, who had assembled inside the Ryan International school campus, barged into the institution’s reception area and vandalised flower pots, a landline phone and the water dispenser. Another group of parents broke the glass window, door and table.

Parents shouted slogans to demand the registration of a case against the school management. Policemen present at the scene, however, managed to control the situation and pacify the agitators.

“We are not happy with the management of the school. Such an incident has taken place inside the school campus and the teachers are not taking any responsibility. We are furious as there is no safety and security for students,” said Shishir Kumar a parent.

Later in the day, some members of Purvanchal Jankalyan Sangh marched to the police commissioner’s office and protested there along with the victim’s father. The protesters refused to accept the body of the victim unless the culprits were arrested and action taken against the school management.

The father of victim demanded that whatever has happened to his child should not happen again, and a case be registered against school authorities.

Deepak Saini, secretary, Purvanchal Jankalyan Sangh, said that they will launch an agitation if the accused are not arrested soon. “Our members protested were detained as well. But we are not going to stop fighting for justice,” said Saini.