Why do you care about Atharva: DAV teachers

Four days after a Class 8 student allegedly jumped off the top floor of the building of DAV Public School, Pakhowal Road, his kin, classmates, DAV pass-outs and Students Organisation of India members protested at the Mini Secretariat on Monday.

Four days after a Class 8 student allegedly jumped off the top floor of the building of DAV Public School, Pakhowal Road, his kin, classmates, DAV pass-outs and Students Organisation of India members protested at the Mini Secretariat on Monday.

Class 8 student Atharva Gupta’s kin protesting outside the mini secretariat in Ludhiana on Monday. The boy’s classmates, DAV pass-outs and SOI members also joined the protest.(HT Photo)

The 13-year-old’s uncle SP Gupta, said, “We want justice and we have written to the ADC (general) Rishi Pal Singh and demanded that the guilty be put behind bars.”

He claimed that his nephew Atharva Gupta had attempted suicide after he was beaten up by four teachers, of which one was a woman.

“He is on ventilator and has not yet gained consciousness. Atharva is a brilliant student and scored above 90% in Class 7.”

SP Gupta, Atharva’s uncle, claimed that his nephew had attempted suicide after he was beaten up by four teachers, of which one was a woman. (HT Photo)

A Class 8 student, requesting anonymity, said, “We were locked inside our classroom when this happened on Thursday. After about half an hour, our teacher entered the class and said an investigation team was in the school. Another teacher said a student from Class 8 had suffered minor injuries after he slipped from the stairs. But after recess, we learnt that our own teachers had beaten up Atharva. We are beaten up for small things like not having a pass for drinking water.”

Another Class 12 student, who did not wish to be named, said, “This is not the first case teachers have thrashed tudents without a reason. The students tortured physically and mentally and whenever a student complains to the principal, no action is taken against the teacher. If a boy and girl are seen together in school, then the school authorities behave like we have committed a crime. This orthodox mindset has to change.”

Parents to protest outside school tomorrow

Some parents visited DAV Public School, Pakhowal Road, to inquire over the matter on Monday. A parent, requesting anonymity, said, “When I asked teachers, they questioned us why we were bothered about Atharva?” She further said, “The school authorities were not ready to answer any of our questions. This is not how you treat a child and the staff should have called the parents. Six months ago, all the teachers wrote to the principal promising not to administer corporal punishment. This has happened despite that. We will not let the school open on Wednesday and will demand strict action against the culprits.”

Student speak

“This is not the first case teachers have thrashed tudents without a reason. The students tortured physically and mentally and whenever a student complains to the principal, no action is taken against the teacher. If a boy and girl are seen together, school authorities behave like we have committed a crime. This orthodox mindset has to change,” a Class 12 student said.