Schoolmates rubbish drowning theory

Shabreen Taj (12) did not drown but was trampled by other children playing in the artificial sea at the Wonder La Amusement Park, her three schoolmates told the police on Wednesday.

The three students, one each from Class 5, 6, and 8 of the Matha English medium school, also denied that the tragic incident, occurred around 2.30 pm, and not around 3.30 pm as claimed by the school.

“Shabreen tripped and fell while vying for the rubber tube. The number of children was far more than the rubber tubes made available. Nobody cared about her as she lay motionless in the pool for a few minutes. But when she didn’t respond, one of her schoolmates called the headmistress, Selvi, who rushed to the spot. But Shabreen had almost but died by then,” the children told the police.

Shabreen’s parents, Mohammad Mustafa and Syed Asima Nikhat, accompanied the children to Bidadi police station where their statements were recorded. Later, the children were taken to Wonder La. Police have drawn the FIR afresh.