Kolkata:
Seven months after 13-year-old La Martiniere student Rouvanjit Rawla committed suicide, after being caned, the school principal and three teachers were arrested on Monday and later given bail.
The principal has been accused of severe physical thrashing and the other three teachers have been charged with criminal assault and slapping.
The Rawlas alleged abetment to suicide under Section 305 of the Indian Penal Code by the school authorities. But the chargesheet only confirms physical assault, as the police says there is no evidence of abetment of suicide by the principal or the other three teachers.
"We have examined over 80 witnesses in the case but we could not establish the charge of Section 305 as per the legal requirements," said Amiya Chakraborty, Lawyer of accused.
"The complaint was filed, but maybe when the investigation was done by the police, to which we cooperated. Maybe they could not find a clause where they could put an abetment to suicide," said Supriyo Dhar, Secretary, La Martiniere.
Rouvanjit Rawla, 13, was found hanging at his home in Kolkata on February 12, four days after he was caned severely by his principal, Sunirmal Chakravarthi. In an interview to NDTV earlier this year, Chakravarthi admitted to caning the teenager, but said that blaming him for Rouvan's suicide was "stretching it." His remarks that he did not know that caning is illegal angered parents and teachers across the country.
After Chakravarthi's arrest, Rouvan's father, an emotional Ajay Rawla said, "I am very grateful to God and the authorities for not letting this be swept under the floor. Those who dealt with our child so badly must be punished as per the law," he said.
In a police case filed against the school after Rouvan's death, Ajay had accused Chakravarthi and teachers Lionel Gunnion, Partha Dutta and David Royan of torturing his son.
In June, the National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) concluded its investigation on Rouvan's death and found the principal responsible for the child's suicide.