Who are the detained house masters and hostel superintendent in the Sainik School cadet’s ‘suicide’ case?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Three staff members of the Sainik School have been arrested.
- A 12-year-old cadet allegedly committed suicide on November 1.
- The incident has led to statewide outrage.
- Authorities are investigating bullying allegations.
- Immediate counseling sessions for students are being conducted.
Itanagar, Nov 9 (NationPress) Three employees of a Sainik School located in Arunachal Pradesh's East Siang district have been detained concerning the suspected suicide of a 12-year-old cadet on the school premises, officials disclosed on Sunday.
East Siang district Superintendent of Police Pankaj Lamba stated that the arrests occurred on Saturday following an extensive inquiry, which encompassed witness statement recordings, forensic investigations, and a thorough analysis of the timeline leading up to the event.
A case has been filed under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at the Ruksin Police Station, he noted. Ongoing investigations are in progress.
The apprehended staff members are identified as Devendra Singh (42), House Master of Subansiri House (Junior Cadet Wing); Kangge Darin (31), House Master of Subansiri House (Senior Cadet Wing); and Amar Singh Thakur (51), Hostel Superintendent of the institution. Singh is from Mau district in Uttar Pradesh, Thakur from Bilaspur district in Himachal Pradesh, while Darin resides in East Siang district, Arunachal Pradesh.
According to police reports, a Class 7 student allegedly took his own life on the school grounds on November 1.
The incident sparked outrage across the state after it emerged that the boy had sent a message to his sister shortly before his death, indicating he was being “tortured by seniors.” The victim’s family has alleged that the boy suffered from severe ragging and mental harassment at the hostel.
Previously, police had apprehended eight juvenile students in relation to the case and presented them to the Juvenile Justice Board. Initial findings indicated the potential involvement of both students and staff members in what was initially classified as an unnatural death.
Arunachal Pradesh Education Minister Pasang Dorjee Sona visited the school, engaging with authorities and police personnel. The minister instructed the school to provide full cooperation during the investigation and to initiate immediate counseling sessions for students dealing with trauma.
Sona also mandated the implementation of stringent preventive measures to eradicate all forms of physical and mental bullying on campus.
Via his official X account, Sona remarked: “Today, I visited Sainik School, East Siang, where the tragic death of young student Tadu Haro has profoundly affected us all. I assessed the current investigation and instructed the school authorities to fully cooperate with the police.”
He continued, “I convened a meeting with SP Pasighat Shri Pankaj Lamba, IPS, and DDSE Shri Odhuk Tabing to evaluate the progress of investigations concerning recent incidents at Sanggo Residential English School, Mebo, as well as Sainik School, East Siang.