BICHOLIM: As many as 11 girl students of Shantadurga Higher Secondary School, Bicholim were hospitalised after they felt breathless as some mischievous students used pepper spray inside the classroom.
As the students complained of uneasiness, they were rushed to the Community Health Centre, Bicholim. While six students were sent home after they were administered first- aid, the other six were referred to the North Goa District Hospital, Mapusa for further treatment.
The police later identified four students who used the pepper spray intentionally to harass the girls. The police have also written to the school administration to take stern action against the erring students.
It is learnt that a similar incident had happened in the same institution last week but it went unnoticed.
Director of Education Shailesh S Zingde issued a show cause notice to the chairman of Shree Shantadurga higher secondary school, asking as to why action deemed fit should not be initiated against the management for failing to prevent such incidents in the premises. The management has been asked to submit its reply within next three days.
The Director of Education has stated that occurrences of such incidents in any educational institution is detrimental not only for the students but for the educational system as well.
On the other hand, Bicholim PI Rahul Naik has asked the principal to conduct a detailed enquiry into the incident and to initiate appropriate action against the erring students so as to prevent such untoward incidents in future. The police have also asked the school management to install adequate CCTV cameras in the institution premises including classrooms.
On getting the information, MLAs Chandrakant Shetye and Adv Carlos Alvares Ferreira and Congress president Amit Patkar visited the hospitalised students at Mapusa and enquired about their health.
Patkar said that that the government needs to take cognisance of the incident because after speaking to the parents as it was observed that this was the second incident over the last week. This should not happen. We pray for the quick recovery of the students, he said.
Adv Ferreira hoped that the school administration will cooperate with the police to find out what happened in the institution. “I only hope that children learn good values and come with good behaviour in school and if they are to do mischief, then not to do this kind of mischief where they hurt somebody, injure somebody or hospitalise somebody,” Ferreira said.
“We are happy that nothing major has happened. I think that the authorities will have to take this into account. We want this to be inquired into especially since this is the second incident and make sure that these incidents don’t repeat,” Adv Ferreira said.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has directed the police and Education Department to conduct thorough enquiry into the incident reported in Shree Shantadurga Higher Secondary School, Bicholim.
