Haryana school assault: Girl out of danger, probe ordered; FIR against school

Chandigarh: The Haryana government on Saturday ordered a probe into the assault of a six-year-old girl with special needs by an eight-year-old boy inside a classroom at a government school in Panchkula, and police registered an FIR against the school administration for alleged negligence.

The girl, who was admitted to PGIMER, Chandigarh, with serious injuries, is now out of danger, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Panchkula) Aditi Singh said. The state will bear her entire treatment cost.

The FIR has been registered under relevant sections of the Juvenile Justice Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the DCP said. The boy, being eight, is being assessed by psychologists under the Juvenile Justice Act, and further proceedings will follow that report.

A five-member committee headed by the Additional Deputy Commissioner will inquire into the incident. It includes the District Education Officer, the District Child Protection Officer, a police officer nominated by the Commissioner of Police, and a special educator or child psychologist, and has been asked to report within seven days. The government has also announced a safety audit of schools across the state and a standard operating procedure for all schools in Panchkula.

The Haryana State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has taken suo motu cognisance and issued a notice to the Panchkula DEO, seeking the school's duty roster, attendance records, CCTV footage, the incident report and the action taken, besides details of supervision in the classroom and of the first aid and hospitalisation.

Education Minister Mahipal Dhanda said negligence affecting children's safety would not be tolerated.

The family alleges the classroom was covered by CCTV monitored from the principal's office, that the principal had left around 3 pm, and that the incident occurred between 3 pm and 3.15 pm. It took nearly two hours to get the child out, they said.

(With inputs from PTI and media reports)