Protest, vandalism on Ryan campus: How will our kids study here, parents ask

GURUGRAM: The murder of seven-year-old boy at Ryan International School on Friday morning sparked outrage among parents, who were concerned about the safety of their children on the campus.

As the news of Class II student Pradhyumn Thakur’s death spread, around 60 parents protested on the campus between 10.30am and noon, demanding action against the school authorities as the boy was murdered right under their nose. They also insisted on meeting the principal to know about the security of the 1,000-odd students who study at the school.

Sensing a backlash, none from the school authorities came out, which further fuelled the parents’ anger.

Though a large contingent of policemen, led by DCP (south) Ashok Bakshi, was present on the campus to prevent any violence, the furious parents resorted to vandalism and broke a glass-top coffee table, a cupboard of trophies and a water filter, among others. Some of them also tried to break an LED TV in the lobby, but the cops intervened. While some of the parents were taken into custody, the others were pushed back and asked to wait outside the main gate. “I have been completely taken aback by what has happened. This is unacceptable. The school authorities are not willing to tell us if our kids are safe in this school. This was the only way to make ourselves heard,” Ghan Shyam, a parent, said.

Another parent, Laxman Thakur, added, “After this incident, I don’t want to send my kids to this school anymore. It is not safe here.”

Vishal Raina, whose kid was Pradhyumn’s classmate, said, “I see no reason why the parents were pushed out. We only wanted answers. The children are in a state of trauma right now. After this incident, how will they come back to study here?”

Ramesh Rana, president of Haryana Parents’ Forum for Education, raised several questions on the security arrangement inside the school.

“The parents pay huge fees, so when something like this happens, it is not acceptable. Was there no housekeeping staff inside the washroom? No one saw if any outsider had entered the washroom and came out? Our association will take up this matter very seriously with the district administration and demand strict action immediately. If our voices go unheard, we will hold protests, demanding justice for Pradhyumn,” he said.