Tumakuru, 13 Feb

A Class 1 student in a Tumakuru government school lost two of her fingers in an accident during school, but the teachers allegedly did not take her to a hospital and simply threw the severed limbs away. As a result, doctors were unable to reattach her fingers.

The incident occurred at around 1 pm on 9 February when Chinmayi Devi, a Class 1 student, was standing in line for the midday meals in the government school in Gooluru village of Tumakuru taluk. She placed her hand on the door of a nearby classroom, but suddenly, another student forcefully closed the door. Two of Chinmayi’s fingers on her right hand were caught in the door gap and severed. 

Teachers then allegedly poured water on her hand and applied a bandage to stop the bleeding. Teachers said that they also then threw the fingers away because they were afraid that other children might panic if they saw the blood.

The parents, both daily wage labourers in a masonry, alleged institutional negligence, saying that they were informed about the incident very late. They said that they were informed about the incident at about 2.30pm.

“When we reached, we found her lying unconscious in a pool of blood. The teachers said she got her fingers severed in the iron door, but they didn't provide any first aid or medical help,” Chinmayi’s mother, Ambika, told Salar News. Renukamma, a teacher, transferred Rs 2,200 through UPI and told them to take Chinmayi to a good hospital.

When the parents took her to a nearby hospital, doctors said that the fingers could have been reattached if they had been preserved.

“I reported this to our Gram Panchayat member, and he informed the Block Education Officer (BEO), Hanumanthappa,” Ambika added. “But the BEO was casual and even made a casteist remark, saying 'Since your child belongs to an SC caste, you need not worry about it' and disconnected the call".

Police Sub Inspector (PSI) Bharti told Salar News that an FIR has been lodged at the Tumakuru Rural Police Station against Block Education Officer (BEO) Hanumanthappa, Headmaster Nagesh, teacher Renukamma, and CRP Venkatesh.

Police will also investigate if the door was intentionally closed to injure Chinmayi.

Based on a complaint filed by Ambika, a case has been registered at the Tumakuru Rural Police Station under section 125(a), 238 with 190 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and Section 75 of the Juvenile Justice Act (JJ Act).