20 students beaten up in Thane: Need nod from school trustee’s doctor to arrest her, say police

The 45-year-old accused is a cancer patient, the police said

The school trustee, who was booked for allegedly beating 20 students with a fibre rod, suffers from cancer and will be arrested after the police receive a doctor’s letter, said an officer from the Thane commissionerate.

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“Around 18 children came with their parents to the police station on Thursday and asked us to file a complaint against the school trustee for assaulting them,” said D Swamy, deputy commissioner of police from zone 1. “The trustee, Shilpa Gautam, 45, is ill, so we will follow proper procedure and arrest her.”

On Wednesday afternoon, around 20 students from Classes 7 to 10 were practising for the school’s annual day function. “The children were rehearsing a dance. The music they were playing was allegedly loud, which, according to the school authority, disturbed Gautam. She barged into the room with a rod, and began hitting the students. While some fled, others suffered injuries,” said a police officer.

Five students were admitted to Thane Civil Hospital, one of whom has a head injury. Three others have suffered spinal and arm fractures. “We were not allowed to ask the trustee why she beat our children so brutally,” said one of the parents.

Gautam has been booked under section 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means) of the Indian Penal Code.