Jaipur: Girl, 9, dies after repeated complaints of bullying ‘ignored’

Her mother, Shivani Meena, had recorded an audio message on WhatsApp a year earlier, in which the child was heard saying: "I don't want to go to school... don't send me."

The mother said she shared the audio clip with the teacher, hoping that action would be taken.

She alleged that the class teacher and coordinator ignored her complaints despite repeated attempts to inform them about her daughter's condition.

"I would speak to the class teacher, I spoke to the class coordinator not once, but a number of times over the last one year, but they would either shrug me off or ignore me," she told NDTV.

The minor died on the spot after jumping from the school building on November 1.

The parents alleged that the school authorities did not respond despite being repeatedly informed about bullying, harassment and verbal abuse with "sexual connotations" that the child faced in the institution.

Recalling a parent-teacher meeting, the victim’s father, Vijay Meena, told NDTV: "The teacher told me this is a co-ed school and Amaiyra must learn to talk to all children, even the boys. I told the teacher that it is my daughter's choice if she does not want to talk to boys."

According to NDTV, CCTV footage showed the girl approaching the class teacher twice before she climbed the railing and jumped.

Although CBSE guidelines mandate audio recording in classrooms, the footage did not have any sound, the report added.

The girl’s uncle, Sahil, questioned the school’s infrastructure and safety measures. "We want answers. With over 5,000 children and a six-floor building, how did they get permission to build extra floors without a grill or net for safety? It's basic. How can there be open floors? Where is the audio in CCTV as per CBSE norms? Even 15 days of footage should be available. It’s a prestigious school charging substantial fees — where is the accountability?" he told NDTV.

Jaipur Deputy Commissioner of Police Rajarshi Raj Verma told NDTV that statements have been taken from the parents, and verification is underway.

"We are taking everything on record and verifying. The parents were in shock earlier, but now, whatever their concerns, we will take them on record and investigate," he said.

The incident comes amid several recent reports of alleged bullying in educational institutions.

In Arunachal Pradesh's East Siang district, a student's body was recovered from a Sainik School on November 1. The family alleged the boy died by suicide after being tortured by seniors, India TV reported.

In another case in Chennai, a boy allegedly jumped to his death after being mocked by classmates for being "ugly, skinny and dark." The student, Kishore, and his mother, a Tangedco employee, had filed a written complaint with the school principal earlier that day, The Times of India reported. Police said the Class XII student appeared depressed after returning home and later died by suicide.