Voicing their dissent over investigation into the infamous Vinay Mahto murder case, parents of the 12-year-old victim and villagers from Chanda Ghasi took to the streets with demands of initiating a high-level probe in the case.
Claiming that the investigation has been deliberately botched up under pressure, more than 150 protesters arrived at Vinay’s school, Sapphire International School located in Hardag on Ranchi-Khunti road, to lockdown the cradle where he was found bleeding profusely and half dead in the early hours of February 5.
The procession was stopped by police well ahead of the school gate though, as prohibitory orders have been imposed by Ranchi district administration in a 100 yards radius around the school. The dissenters sat down where they were stopped, jamming Ranchi-Khunti road.
“Mera beta zinda tha to andar jaane ki ijazat thi, ab wo mar gaya to hume road pe baitha diya hai. (We were allowed to go inside (the school) when my son (Vinay) was alive, but now we have to sit down on the road after his death),” said Kushila Devi, Vinay’s mother as she sat with other protesters, holding a portrait of her son.
The gathering near the school gate forced motorists travelling between the two districts to take a 1.5 kilometre detour to reach their destinations. The way was cleared momentarily only for ambulances transporting patients between Ranchi and Khunti.
Voicing their demands, Vinay’s father Manbahal Mahto stated, “We have three demands, firstly the entire matter should be re-investigated by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and taken up in a fast-track court, secondly school’s Chairman should be arrested, and lastly, strict action should be taken against doctors who conducted post-mortem on my son’s dead body neglecting the regulations.”
Vinay’s kin are also finding it difficult to digest the motive behind his murder, which was pegged by the police as love affair with the daughter of school’s Hindi teacher Nazia Husssain.
“It is utterly unbelievable that Vinay, a mere child, had a love affair. Initially we were told that he committed suicide due to depression, now it is honour killing over a love affair. The parents never informed about any of these matters though,” said Zila Parishad members Arti Kujur, who was among the leaders of the protesting mob.
Meanwhile, Ranchi district administration issued a show cause to the premium cradle, seeking explanations to why the No Objection Certificate (NOC) issued to the school should not be annulled after the incident.
“Based on Section 17 of Right to Education Act, schools are required to ensure that their students are shielded from mental harassment of all kinds and that they learn in a fear-free environment. “In the show-cause notice issued to Sapphire, we have asked school authorities, to terminate their NOC as they cannot abode by this provision of the Act,” stated Ranchi Deputy Commissioner Manoj Kumar.
“The improvements made by the school in its security measurements and action taken against its staff for irresponsible behaviour is expected to be the reply from school authorities. On receiving their reply, we will send a team to verify their response to our notice,” the Ranchi DC said.
He further added, “We have formed several vigilance committees, consisting of District Education Officer and Officers in-Charge to monitor whether residential schools are making sufficient security arrangements to ensure a fear-free environment to their boarders and to weed out any lacunae therein.”