A tragic incident occurred in Maharashtra, India, where a 12-year-old girl lost her life reportedly due to being made to do 100 sit-ups by her teacher for arriving late to class. The young student, identified as Kajal Gond, a sixth-grader at a school in Vasai, experienced severe back pain after being punished while carrying her schoolbag. The punishment resulted in her deteriorating health condition, leading to hospitalization in Nalasopara and later at Mumbai’s JJ Hospital, where she ultimately passed away.
The girl’s father, Sunil Gond, expressed his daughter’s agony and emphasized that no child should undergo such treatment for a minor offense like tardiness. Outraged parents and community members have demanded accountability from the school administration and the teacher involved. Community activist Meena Patil condemned the incident, labeling it as cruelty rather than discipline, emphasizing that schools should be places of learning, not suffering.
In response to the tragedy, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), a regional political party, has called for the closure of the school until legal actions are taken against those responsible. MNS spokesperson Rajesh Kadam stressed the importance of serving justice and holding the culprits accountable under the law.
Furthermore, advocates for education are advocating for stricter enforcement of child protection laws and enhanced training for teachers to prevent such unfortunate incidents in the future.