Team Herald
MARGAO: The Goa Children’s Court, on Monday, granted anticipatory bail to the headmistress and class teacher of a seven-year-old student from a Cuncolim school who was allegedly assaulted in school premises. The court ordered their release upon furnishing bail of Rs 25,000 each, with one surety in the same amount in the event of their arrest.
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Police stated that the minor girl, who was undergoing treatment at Goa Medical College in Bambolim, has been discharged. Her parents lodged a complaint at Cuncolim police station, stating that she sustained severe head injuries after being punched in the face by her schoolmates. The Cuncolim police registered the offence under Section 125B of the BNS and Section 8 of the Goa Children Act.
Following the registration of the offence, the headmistress and class teacher applied for anticipatory bail before the Goa Children’s Court.
The court issued notices to the police, the public prosecutor, and the defence advocate, and subsequently granted their bail application.
The case is currently being investigated by PI Sudiksha Naik of the women’s police station in Margao, where the women’s cell has recorded several statements related to the case. PSI Kavita Rawat, who was investigating at Cuncolim police station, recorded statements from 51 students and others.
Recently, a large number of people gathered outside the Cuncolim police station to protest the police’s inaction despite the parents’ complaint regarding their daughter’s grievous assault at school. The protesters demanded an explanation for the delay in action, leading to the registration of an FIR.
They called for the headmistress and teacher, under whose supervision the girl was injured, to be held accountable and accused the school management of negligence, alleging that the school failed to provide medical attention to the injured child.
The girl’s father reported finding her unconscious in her classroom with no one attending to her when he arrived after school to take her home. She was subsequently taken to the primary health centre and then to South Goa District Hospital, from where she was referred to GMC. The father claimed that her teachers ignored her cries for help.
The case was later handed over to the Margao women’s cell. A senior police officer stated that the girl’s condition has significantly improved; she was recently moved from the Intensive Care Unit to the general ward and discharged today. Police have also collected CCTV footage as evidence. Meanwhile, Inspector
General of Police (IGP) Omvir Singh Bishnoi visited the school and police station last Thursday to review the situation.
