A six-year-old boy was tortured to death by his classmates following a dispute over the unlocking of their school’s main gate in Tandlianwala town.
Shahzaib, a pupil at the government-run Primary School No 7 and a resident of Islam Pura neighbourhood, wanted to return home during recess but the students deputed as gatekeepers punched and kicked him, police said.
Shahzaib was seriously wounded in the attack and died on the spot.
His grandmother Meraj Bibi told reporters that the boy was stopped and thrashed by “Arsal, Sher and other students when he was trying to leave the school to go home during recess”.
“When Shahzaib insisted on opening the gate, the other students rained down blows and sticks on him,” she cried.
Muhammad Muazzam, a resident of the neighbourhood where the school is located, said, “When Shahzaib was being beaten, his screams were heard in the locality but the residents could not help him as the school gate was locked from inside.”
Another student said that when the boy was crying for help, some students complained to a school teacher and asked her to take action. “The school teacher did not take any action against the students who tortured Shahzaib, nor did she provide any medical assistance to him.”
Station House Officer of Tandlianwala, Imran Younus said that a case has been registered against three schoolchildren.
He added that students involved in the torture and death of Shahzaib are minors therefore, the police did not arrest them formally.
EDO education said that the administration is also investigating the matter. “If any school teacher is found negligent, strict action will be taken against her,” he said.
Teacher Surraya Bibi denied that Shahzaib was not helped by the school staff. “We rushed to the spot and attempted to provide treatment to Shahzaib but he had passed away as we reached him due to the severity of injuries.”
Published in The Express Tribune, February 27th, 2014.