Shanno’s teacher claims innocence

Police said they are now looking for an “independent witness” and will record the statement to strengthen their case against the teacher. The teacher denied the allegations during questioning.

The Delhi police on Saturday questioned Manju (26), who goes by one name, at her house in Sonepat in Haryana. The MCD teacher is accused of causing the death of 11-year-old Shanno Khan who was made to stand in blistering sun for two hours as punishment. The minor died at LNJP Hospital on Friday.

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Police said they are now looking for an “independent witness” and will record the statement to strengthen their case against the teacher. The teacher denied the allegations during questioning.

A case under Section 304 A of the IPC (death due to negligence) was registered at Narela police station that is punishable by a maximum of two years and is a bailable offence.

On Wednesday afternoon Shanno had collapsed at her school when the teacher asked her to stand in the sun for two hours with bricks on her shoulders when she failed to spell a word in English.

“Had this incident happened at some elite school the authorities would not take this long to respond to the death of a student,” Mohammad Ayub Khan, Shanno’s father said.

As soon as Shanno’s body was brought to her home for last rites, angry residents spilled on to the streets and shouted anti police slogans. The burial took place around 3.30 p.m. at a graveyard near Shanno’s colony.

Residents pelted stones and broke windows of a few police vehicles. They also tried to block traffic on Narela Road.

Residents have prevented the MCD Girls’ Primary School, Bawana —the one which Shanno attended — from functioning since April 16.