By IANS,
New Delhi: The Delhi government Tuesday said it has terminated the services of the principal and transferred six teachers of the school in northeast Delhi where five girls were killed and over 30 were injured in a stampede earlier this month.
“We have already terminated the services of the principal of the Government Boys Senior Secondary School, Khajuri Khas, and suspended the then in-charge of the girls’ school,” said Education Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely.
Five girl students were killed and at least 34 were injured Sep 10 in the stampede at the Government Senior Secondary School (Classes 6-12). The victims were mostly from Classes 7-10 and had come to the school in pouring rain for their mid-year examinations.
Lovely said an inquiry has also been contemplated against the deputy director (education) and six teachers have been transferred from the school while two new principals have been posted in the school.
Initial reports suggested that a rumour about electric current leaking into the rainwater accumulated in the school compound triggered the stampede. However, victims told police that the incident took place while they were trying to make their way up and down a staircase.
Some alleged that boys who had come to the school to give their examination tried to molest them which resulted in the accident.
The minister said the school reopened Tuesday and approximately 400 students were present in each shift of the school.
“A condolence meeting was also organized to pay homage to the victims,” said Lovely adding that a meeting of parents was also called to seek their suggestions.
Earlier in the morning, families of the five girls who were killed along with other protesters threw stones at vehicles passing by and torched a Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) bus in Khajuri Khas area.
They demanded a Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI) probe into the incident and a compensation of Rs.500,000. The Delhi government has offered compensation of Rs.200,000, which is yet to be paid.
Subhash Arya, leader of the house of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), also supported the demand of higher compensation.
“Higher compensation will not reduce the pain of grieving families but still the government should increase the compensation amount to Rs.600,000. A CBI inquiry should also be conducted in the matter,” Arya said.
Lovely, however, said that Tuesday’s violence was not related to the stampede incident but some miscreants tried to create panic and held demonstrations near the main road, which is far from the school.