A tragic incident occurred in Maharashtra, India, where a 12-year-old girl passed away after reportedly being subjected to a punishment of 100 sit-ups by her teacher for arriving late to class. The young student, identified as Kajal Gond, was required to wear her schoolbag during the punishment, resulting in severe back pain. The incident, which took place on November 8 and involved other tardy students, has sparked outrage within the community.
Following the punishment, Kajal experienced worsening back pain at home, leading to her hospitalization in Nalasopara and subsequent transfer to Mumbai’s JJ Hospital, where she ultimately succumbed to her condition. Her family members attribute her deteriorating health directly to the punishment inflicted upon her.
Expressing his grief, Kajal’s father, Sunil Gond, shared, “She was crying in pain and kept saying she could not move her back. No child should be treated this way for being late.” Outraged by the incident, local residents and parents are demanding strict actions against both the teacher and the school administration. Community activist Meena Patil condemned the incident, stating, “This is not discipline, it is cruelty. We send our children to school to learn, not to suffer.”
In response to the tragedy, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), a regional political party, has issued a warning that the school will remain closed until criminal charges are brought forth. MNS spokesperson Rajesh Kadam emphasized the importance of serving justice and holding those responsible accountable before the law.
Meanwhile, advocates for education are calling for enhanced enforcement of child protection laws and improved training for teachers to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.