Detective department to probe Kolkata student's death
As the West Bengal government plans to set up a body to deal with corporal punishment to students, probe into the alleged suicide of a city school boy was today handed over to the detective department of Kolkata police.
"We have taken the charge and the investigation is on" Deputy Commissioner (Detective department), Damayanti Sen said."We will have to ascertain whether the boy was really driven by the accused to commit suicide. We will have to speak with the boy's friends, family members, teachers and their colleagues," another officer of the department said.
Meanwhile, the state government said it was planning to set up an appropriate body to deal with the issue of corporal punishment following allegations that humiliation and caning of the student had led him end his life.
Education Minister Partha De said there should be an appropriate body under the Right to Education Act to deal with such cases.The minister, however, did not specify any time frame for setting up the body but said "we plan to set up the authority soon".
Describing as "unfortunate" the alleged suicide of class VIII student Rouvanjit Rawla of La Martiniere for Boys school in February, De said there should be a general rule for all education institutions regarding corporal punishment.
The school is under the management of the Church of North India.He said the school education department had informed all education boards that corporal punishment to students was an offence.
Rawla had allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself at his house after being caned by the school principal on February 12 for indiscipline, according to complaint lodged by the father of the child.
