Many parents accompanied students to the school on Thursday …..Debobrata Shome
Kolkata: The 15-year-old class 9 student who stabbed his classmate inside the classroom of a prominent south Kolkata school has been suspended for a week. The mother of a class 8 student said: “Of course I am concerned. I took half a day off today so that I could accompany my son to school.
We drop our children off with the trust that they are safe inside school. ” Kolkata Police said they have launched an inquiry into the alleged incident based on a complaint received from the school.
A senior school official said: “Presently, we have nothing further to do as the police have taken up the case and are investigating. We are keeping in mind that the child is autistic and currently experiencing personal issues,” said a police source involved in the investigation. School authorities have advised his family to seek professional psychological counselling for him. Our school counsellor has already spoken with the student and found that he has distress issues that require thorough counselling, and we have advised his father accordingly. “We have seized the CCTV footage from the classroom, which clearly captures the entire incident. We have also spoken to the school administration, particularly the class teacher.
Meanwhile, we remain in constant touch with Ruby Hospital, where the injured student is undergoing treatment. ” On Thursday, TOI spoke to parents who usually send their children to school in pool cars but chose to accompany them personally after learning of the incident. I have been deeply disturbed since hearing about the incident yesterday, haunted by the thought that it could have been my son.
A section of parents standing outside the school noted: “The boy who stabbed the student has had a troubled childhood and recently lost his mother.
Another parent added: “My son told me this boy was also a victim of bullying by his classmates, though I cannot verify what is true. I feel the school should be more vigilant in identifying children in distress and referring them to counsellors before such incidents occur, not after. We want the school to introduce regular bag checks.”
The school is waiting for the police to outline their course of action, after which authorities will review the matter next week to decide the student’s future.