In a tragic incident, a six-year-old student of Ryan International School’s Vasant Kunj branch was allegedly found dead in a water tank on Saturday afternoon. The Delhi Government has ordered a magisterial probe into the death of the class one student, identified as Devyansh Meena, as his parents have alleged that their child was murdered.
Devyansh, who had gone to the South Delhi school for a poem recitation competition, was last seen before the seventh period at around 12.20 pm. The boy’s body was allegedly found floating inside a water tank in the playground after the school authorities launched a search for him.
“The incident came to light when police were informed by the hospital authorities at around 2:20 pm,” said DCP (South) Premnath.
Several police teams were rushed to the spot and the school authorities were questioned. A case of negligence is likely to be registered in connection with the incident. “How he fell into the water tank is still to be ascertained,” Premnath said.
Premnath told The Pioneer that Devyansh left his class and hid somewhere. “As soon as the teacher got to know that he was missing, a hunt was launched for the child. later the student was allegedly found unconscious in the water tank under the amphitheatre of the school.”
School authorities claimed that Devyansh was given first aid first at the school and then rushed to the nearby Institute of Spinal Injury Centre (ISIC). However, the parents have accused the school authorities of negligence.
“The principal Sandhya Sabu called me around 1:34 pm. I was told that there was an emergency and my son had fallen ill,” said the father of the child Ram Het Meena who works as a radiographer in AIIMS.
Devyansh’s father alleged that he was not told about his son’s death initially and later the school authorities had asked them to stay quiet. “When I asked the principal Sandhya Sabu to explain how it happened she asked me to stay quiet and warned me to cooperate,” added Meena.
Meena said: “We took the body of my child from ISIC to AIIMS where his autopsy took place.” The child’s mother, Mamta Meena, who works as a nurse in the ENT Department at AIIMS, claimed that her child was pushed into the reservoir. “He can’t even reach the tank, how could he fall into it,” said the inconsolable mother.
The school authorities claim that the child suffering from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) was difficult to control and would often run out of the class and hide.
However, the family members of the child have rubbished these claims. “He was naughty, which is a normal thing, but Devyansh was a sweet child and had been studying in the same school for three years. How come the school authorities never found out before this that our kid was suffering from ADHD,” said a relative.
“All the statements of the school authorities are false as they are just trying to hide their mistake,” added the relative. The family is planning to take action against the school authorities.
Soon after the news of the child’s death spread local residents, parents of other children in the school and the media, gathered outside.
Talking about the incident, the mother of another student said that the tragic incident reflects the negligence of the school authorities. While she did not want to be named, she added that she would ask other parents of the school students to form a group and approach the authorities to gain insight into the matter.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Government has ordered a magisterial probe into the incident.
“Ordered District Magistrate of New Delhi to probe in Ryan child death case. To find facts, responsibility and ascertain exact role of school management,” Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia tweeted.