Protests on,Modern promises probe

A press conference and parents’ meeting called at the school on Thursday was disrupted after an altercation broke out between the parents and the school management. The school had called parents to hear their opinion on the circumstances that led up to Akkriti’s death. An argument started after the girl’s family blamed the school for the death and demanded Malhotra’s resignation. While a few parents defended the school and said the principal was not at fault,their view was countered by others. With many students joining the argument and shouting slogans against the principal,Malhotra left the auditorium where the meeting was being held.

“We tried the best we could think of in that moment of panic,” said Malhotra amid shouts of “liar,liar”. Veena Bhatia,Akkriti’s mother,shouted at the school’s managing trustee,Ashok Pradhan Singh,for not taking any action after her daughter’s death. “They were careless and now my daughter is no more. I demand justice. The principal and the nurse should be removed on moral grounds,” said Akkriti’s father,Vipin Bhatia.

The family and their friends alleged the delay in calling an ambulance and also removing the oxygen cylinder killed Akkriti. “She was uncomfortable due to the mask,because of which the nurse,Lily Kutty,removed it. Her condition worsened thereafter. Had they let us take the oxygen cylinder in the car in which she was taken to hospital,Akkriti would have been alive today,” said Akarshika,classmate and Akkriti’s good friend,who was with her through the ordeal.

Several other students raised the question of why Akkriti was not put on nebuliser,which the school claims to keep in its clinic.

From the auditorium,the altercation spilled out into the courtyard with parents and students arguing their sides. “They are spoiling the good name of the school. The nurse did everything that she could and the students should accept that,” said an agitated parent. The management held a closed-door meeting with Akkriti’s family and several other parents to pacify them. “We will constitute an inquiry committee headed by someone who will be accepted as impartial by the parents. There will also be a medical expert on the committee,” A P Singh,managing trustee of the school,told the media later.

The school denied allegations that students had been threatened with rustication for participating in the protest. “This is not the time to victimise children who are already upset. There will be no punishment for students who participated in the protest or spoke to the media,” said Singh.

About inadequate medical facilities in the school,Singh said the medical room would be upgraded and they would consider keeping a doctor on the premises during school hours. “We will also have to look into the means of ensuring faster access to ambulance facility,through purchase or contract. There is no concrete plan as of now,but we will upgrade medical facilities on a priority basis,” he added.

Akkriti’s family and several other parents,however,questioned the impartiality of the committee. “How can an inquiry committee be impartial if the principal,who is the main person to be at fault,is in a position to influence it?” Payal Verma,Akkriti’s Aunt,asked.

The students,meanwhile,said they would continue with the protest. They plan to block the school’s main gate on Friday morning.

Though Vipin Bhatia had filed a complaint at the Vasant Vihar police station against the school on Wednesday,the police have not registered any case yet. “We have received a complaint from the parents,but are yet to receive the postmortem report. Investigations are under way,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) H G S Dhaliwal.

Directorate of Education orders inquiry

The Directorate of Education has instructed the Deputy Director,Education (South),to conduct an inquiry into the death of Akkriti Bhatia. A committee will be formed by the DDE to look into the matter. “The report is expected in a few days,” said Education Secretary Rina Ray. The Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights,too,is reported to have written to the education department to submit an

inquiry report.