Days after a schoolgirl allegedly died by suicide after being scolded by her teacher in South Tripura district, a three-member committee investigating the incident visited her school in Belonia on Wednesday.
According to sources, the teacher scolded the 15-year-old girl, accusing her of cheating in an exam and allegedly threw her answer script away on July 24. The girl died a day later.
“We have started our investigation to highlight the real side of the incident. We will also visit her home and talk to her parents. After that, we will submit our report to the higher authority, which will take a decision,” said a member of the committee that interacted with students and others at the school.
Students protested at the school, demanding action against the teacher who had allegedly scolded the girl.
Chief Minister Manik Saha, who is also the school education minister, ordered the investigation after the incident triggered a massive outrage on social media. Netizens highlighted central government directives, the Right to Education Act, and court guidelines that prohibit any form of corporal punishment and psychological abuse in schools.
The chief minister’s office had earlier said the three-member committee would submit its report by Wednesday.
The committee members are Lisa Bardhan, Joint Director of Elementary Education; Kajal Kumar Bhowmik, Officer on Special Duty at the Directorate of Secondary Education; and Sudip Sarkar, Officer on Special Duty at the office of the District Education Officer, Tripura West.
