Corporal punishment: Child rights panel registers case over Ayisha’s death

Uppala, Sept 15: The Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has registered a suo motu case in connection with the death of a Class VI student from Uppala in the district.

The commission on Thursday directed the District Collector, Superintendent of Police, District Education Deputy Director, District Child Welfare Officer, District Medical Officer, and the Directorate of Public Instruction to furnish reports within a week.

The panel’s action follows the death of Ayisha Mehnaz, 11, daughter of Abdul Khader, a student of a school under the Uppala Manimunda Education Society.

There were reports that the girl was subjected to torture by two lady teachers of the school accusing her of copying the question paper in her answer sheet in a term examination.

The girl had undergone treatment at a Mangaluru hospital and returned home. However, the death of the girl on Tuesday at her residence sparked suspicion among the local people and a post-mortem examination was conducted at Pariyaram Medical College Hospital on Wednesday.

However, the preliminary report from the hospital attributed the girl’s death to a bout of epilepsy, Kumbla Circle Inspector V.V. Manoj said adding that the student had undergone treatment for neurological disorders earlier.

The police, as per a complaint lodged by a girl’s relative, registered a case under Cr.PC 174 (unnatural death), Mr. Manoj said.