Locals protest Class 6 student's death after '100 sit-ups' punishment at Palghar school
Palghar PTI): Locals staged a protest over the death of a 12-year-old girl, who was allegedly made to perform 100 sit-ups as punishment for coming late to school in Maharashtra's Palghar district.
Following the protest, the police registered a case in this regard late on Saturday night.
Statements of the family, witnesses and school employees will be recorded, an official said.
Locals gathered in large numbers at Sativali in Vasai East on Saturday night and refused to cremate the body of a Class 6 student, who passed away at a hospital in Mumbai on Friday night.
The girl was allegedly made to perform 100 sit-ups after she reached the school late on November 8. The deceased girl's mother has alleged that her daughter died as a result of an "inhuman punishment" given by her teacher, who made her perform sit-ups with her school bag on her back.
Locals have accused the school administration of negligence and demanded immediate accountability.
When the girl's body was brought to the locality, hundreds of residents gathered, demanding a case against the school and the concerned teacher.
It was only after the police registered a case and assured the family of strict action that the cremation was carried out late in the night.
Talking to PTI, Vasai Block Education Officer Pandurang Galange said that officials had visited the school on Saturday, but no staff member was present.
"Education officials will visit the school on Monday for an inquiry," he said, adding that the department would cooperate fully with the police investigation and initiate appropriate action based on the findings.
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Neeraj Chopra, Sumit Antil complain of harassment by Dronacharya awardee coach
New Delhi (PTI): Paralympic gold-medallist Sumit Antil, endorsed by Olympic superstar Neeraj Chopra, has accused Dronacharya awardee coach Naval Singh of mental harassment and verbal abuse in a complaint to the Sports Authority of India (SAI).
SAI acknowledged receiving the complaint but stated that Naval is not its employee and had been engaged by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) to train "another leading athlete as part of National Coaching Camp".
Naval, who was bestowed the Dronacharya in 2015, is currently guiding Sachin Yadav, who had bested two-time Olympic medallist Neeraj at the World Championships last year by finishing fourth. An injury-struck Neeraj had ended 8th at the mega-event.
Antil, gold-medallist at Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Games, also alleged that Naval is "probably mentally unstable" and attempting to disturb top athletes like him and Neeraj Chopra. Naval has also extensively worked with para-athletes.
"He (Naval Singh) mentally harassed us and abused our, as in mine and Neeraj's, families. He seems mentally unstable," Antil told PTI
One of India's strongest gold medal hopes in the F64 category (leg amputated) at the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics, Antil said, "He (Naval) would deliberately share recordings of his abusive rants with our (team) managers, so that they reach us."
In response, a SAI source said the matter is being duly taken up with the federation.
"A complaint has been received from Sumit Antil, Paralympic Gold Medalist, alleging verbal abuse by Coach Mr. Naval Singh. The complaint has also been supported by other athletes, including Neeraj Chopra," the source said,
"The coach in question is not a SAI employee and is training another leading athlete as part of National Coaching Camp organised by AFI."
The three-time world champion from 2023 to 2025, added that he sent his complaint to SAI and it was endorsed by Neeraj Chopra and fellow para-javelin throwers Navdeep Singh and Sandeep Chaudhary.
"It has been a week since we complained to D G SAI (Hari Ranjan Rao) and CEO TOPS (Target Olympic Podium Scheme). TOPS CEO (N S Johal) wanted us to (make a) compromise in the first hearing.
"We ignored this matter for a long time but decided to complain after it became too much. I filed the complaint and Neeraj bhai, Navdeep Singh and Sandeep Chaudhary endorsed it," he added.
He questioned the silence SAI's silence after the filing of the complaint.
"Point is if athletes of our stature are not heard then what can others expect. The complaint has not even got an acknowledgement till now," he said.
"And, I am unable to understand why this coach is doing what he is doing. Maybe he wants Sachin Yadav to beat Neeraj bhai because Sachin trains with him," he alleged.
