The two teachers arrested for allegedly driving three school students to suicide
A day after the bodies of three students were found in a river near their boarding school near Mumbai, two teachers have been arrested.
The teachers have been booked under sections 305 (abetment of suicide of child or insane person), 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code.
The students, all 14 years old, were in Class 9 of the Gurukul International School in Vagad near Virar; they had been reported missing on Monday.
The police say the teachers who have been arrested allegedly beat the students after they performed poorly in the Sanskrit exam. They were also allegedly warned of further punishment.
Terrified of being beaten again, the children, investigators say, scaled the school's boundary wall and fell into the river which was in spate due to heavy rain.
Police are also examining CCTV footage from the school to determine the sequence of events.
"My child was beaten once when he was in Class 9. I had complained then and told them that I hadn't sent my child there to be beaten," said Nanjibhai Bhavia, a parent.
The bodies have been sent for an autopsy.
The school's management has said they will conduct an internal inquiry and punish the guilty.
"The school does not believe in hitting students. We want the students to learn. Our priority was to find the kids first. We will conduct an internal inquiry and anyone who is found guilty will be punished," said NK Rita, Chairman, Board of Trustees, Gurukul International School.