A government primary school in Madhya Pradesh’s Guna district has drawn criticism after two Class 5 girls claimed that they were forced to drink water mixed with urine by a male classmate. The disturbing incident took place on Monday at a school in the Aron Development Block.
The allegations have stirred anger among the students’ families and local villagers, with protesters demanding strict action against those who allegedly caused it. The authorities have now launched an investigation and issued a notice to the school principal.
The two girls went to the school principal after the incident and told them about what had happened, said officials. The principal’s response has also faced some criticism.
The principal told the girls that if their mouths tasted bad, they should eat a ₹10 chocolate. The remark has drawn strong criticism from the students’ families and residents who questioned the manner in which the complaints were handled.
Girls’ Allegations Prompt Investigation
Guna District Magistrate Kishore Kumar Kanyal said the two girls alleged that some students had made them consume urine from water bottles.
Following the complaint, Aron Sub-Divisional Magistrate Manjusha Khatri directed officials to visit the school. Local Tehsildar and Block Education Officer (BEO) were sent to the institution to gather information and investigate the circumstances of the allegations.
A notice was issued to the principal. The BEO has been asked to investigate the matter and submit a report within two days.
Kanyal said the alleged act was committed by a student from the same class. The child and his parents have been notified, and the investigation is ongoing. Any other students involved, he said.
Families and Villagers Protest
The allegations triggered protests at the school on Tuesday. Family members of the affected girls and local villagers rallied on the site, shouted slogans and called for action against the students involved as well as the school principal.
The protesters locked the school during the demonstration and raised tensions around it, the school district said.
Administrative officials were later able to arrive at the village with large numbers of police to control the situation and conduct preliminary inquiries. Statements were made by the two girls, their family members and the students accused of involvement.
Authorities will now be studying the statements and other information before deciding on the next steps.
Principal’s Response Under Scrutiny
Apart from the alleged act involving the students, the principal’s reported response has become another important aspect of the investigation. Parents and villagers have criticised the alleged suggestion that the girls eat a ₹10 chocolate if they experienced an unpleasant taste.
The principal will be asked if the children’s complaint was handled properly, as well as if any failure in handling the matter contributed to the escalation of the situation.
The district administration has stated that action will be taken if the allegations are confirmed. BEO reports are expected to establish the circumstances of the incident and determine responsibility.
Authorities Await Detailed Report
The investigation is ongoing, and officials are looking into the allegations and taking statements from the students involved. It’s also being investigated as to whether the incident involved other students and if supervision was inadequate.
There are fears for student safety, school discipline, and the response by teachers and school authorities in the case of serious incidents when children report serious incidents.
Further action against the students allegedly involved or school authorities will depend upon the findings of the official investigation.
