Gurugram boils over boy's murder
Angry parents storm school, attack nearby liquor shop. Government says willing to order CBI probe.
Gurgaon: Hundreds of angry parents today staged a protest outside the Ryan International School here for a CBI probe into the murder of a seven-year-old school boy, a demand which the Haryana government expressed willingness to accept.
A liquor shop, situated just 50 metres from the school, was set ablaze and some of the demonstrators threw liquor bottles inside school premises to vent their ire against the school management, police said.
The protestors alleged that school drivers and conductors often consume alcohol from the liquor shop in their free time. The protestors were demanding that the school be shut until a CBI probe is ordered into the horrifying incident in which the Class 2 boy Praduman Thakur was found with his throat slit in a school washroom on Friday last.
The murder, in connection with which a bus conductor has been arrested, has triggered a major outrage. Police used batons to quell the protest and detained 20 protestors. Cameras of some photojournalists were also damaged during the protest.
“The Gurgaon Police had to use mild lathicharge to disperse the agitators. The police detained over 20 protestors found agitating outside the school," said Ravinder Kumar, PRO of Gurgaon Police. Gurgaon Police Commissioner Sandeep Khirwar denied the charges of mediapersons being targeted by the cops.
“As per my knowledge, a fair warning was given to clear the place and nobody was targeted. However, if any mediaperson has been injured, then I express my regret and we will analyse the entire episode. But there was no intention to target anyone,” Khirwar said.
“On behalf of police authorities, I want to request the district administration that the mediapersons should be given best medical treatment," he said. Gurgaon Police has arrested school bus conductor Ashok Kumar in connection with the murder. According to police, Kumar was inside the toilet, waiting for any student to come inside with the motive of alleged sexual assault. The deceased was the first student who entered the toilet, the police said.