GURGAON:
Two top officials of the Ryan International School have been arrested while the acting principal detained for questioning in connection with the gruesome murder of a seven-year-old in school premises, the police said today.
Fourteen police teams constituted to probe the case, which has sparked huge public outrage, are questioning the school staff while an SIT team is headed to Mumbai to interrogate school CEO Ryan Pinto and director Albert Pinto. Gurgaon Police Chief Sandeep Khairwar said that “School’s Legal Head, Franchis Thomas and HR Head, Jeyus Thomas were arrested on Sunday night following interrogation”.
Acting principal Neerja Batra has been detained and is being questioned. She is likely to be arrested soon, Khairwar said. Class 2 student Praduman Thakur was found with his throat slit in a school washroom on Friday last.The murder, in connection with which a bus conductor has been arrested, has triggered a major outrage.
Taking action on the report of the three-member Special Investigative Team (SIT) indicating lapses in security at Ryan International School, Gurgaon Police arrested two top officials of the school under section 75 of the Juvenile Justice act. The district administration also asked the school to ensure safety in its premises and gave 15 days time to reply to a show cause notice.
All Ryan group of schools in Gurgaon have been ordered to remain shut today and tomorrow on the directions of the district administration. Security has been stepped up at the school. Hundreds of parents had yesterday staged a protest outside the Ryan International School here demanding a CBI probe into the murder of the 7-year-old student.
The state government has directed the Gurgaon Police to book the owner of Ryan International Albert Pinto under the Juvenile Justice (care and punishment act) Act. Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has asserted that there will be no leniency and the school management will be held accountable.
Ryan International School, where a 7-year-old boy was found murdered three days back, tonight said its management is “cooperating to our fullest” with the police investigations and hoped that the guilty would be given the severest punishment as per the law.
In a statement, Ryan Pinto, CEO of Ryan International Schools Group, said the school should not be held “culpable of a crime where it is itself a victim of unfortunate circumstances.”
Insisting that well being and safety of students is the school’s priority, Pinto said, “We will not succumb to all the various false allegations being made nor will we fuel the various controversies being spread. we should not unjustly be blamed or branded as the perpetrators.”
He said the Ryan International Group of schools was facing “one of its saddest periods” since its inception due to the loss of life of one of its innocent students, as a result of a reprehensible crime.
“We are all in shock by the horror of this crime that occurred despite various security protocols,” he said. “We share the deep pain and grief of the bereaved parents and family in this darkest hour. on behalf of the entire school staff, students and management we want to extend our heartfelt condolences to the family,” the statement said.
“It is understandable that everyone is seeking answers. So are we and We are cooperating to our fullest with the police investigations,” said Pinto.
He said Ryan has four-decade-long reputation “as a credible educational institution educating lakhs of students across the nation. We would like to emphasise that Ryan School takes all efforts to ensure the security of its students.” The CEO said the the school is giving complete cooperation to the investigating authorities and “we have total faith in the law. We hope that the investigations will be concluded soon, and the guilty get the severest punishment as per the due process of law.”
He went on to add, “As the investigations are ongoing, we request all parties concerned to refrain from holding Ryan School culpable of a crime where it is itself a victim of unfortunate circumstances.
“The investigation report should be out soon and all parties concerned need to wait until then. We request the public to refrain from turning violent and to let the police do their work.”
While expressing confidence that “the truth will ultimately prevail”, he said, “Once again, we extend our heartfelt condolences to Praduman’s parents and We pray that God Almighty would bestow His everlasting peace for the departed soul.
