School girl faints after punishment

MALDA, July 11: Piya Ghosh, a class VIII student of government aided Hazi Muhammad High School in English Bazaar, fainted in her classroom after she was allegedly made to kneel down by the physical science teacher yesterday. Though the teachers of the school attended her and sent her home after the incident, she fell ill again last night. Her guardians admitted her to Malda district hospital today when she complained of severe pain in her head. According to Mrs Shymali Ghosh, the student's mother, her daughter was chatting with another girl during the class. “Noticing it, the teacher asked her a question. But instead of answering, Piya giggled. Annoyed, the teacher hit her on her hand with a hand fan and asked her to kneel down in the classroom in the presence of other students,” Mrs Ghosh alleged. Mr Amiya Saha, an assistant teacher of the school admitted the incident. “When she fainted we took care of her and sent her home after she recovered. But we do not know what happened in the night,” said Mr Saha. He further added that Mr Jahangir Alam, the physical science teacher was also shaken by the incident and informed the other teachers. Piya's father, a daily wage earner, has not lodged any complaint with police. The district inspector of schools (secondary) Mr Chinmay Sarkar said that he was not aware of the incident. “I am hearing of it for the first time. We need to find out the girl's medical history,” he said. n sns