A Class 6 student from a private school in Maharashtra’s Palghar district died nearly a week after she was allegedly forced to perform 100 sit-ups as punishment for arriving late, prompting authorities to launch an inquiry into the incident.

The student from a school in Sativali, Vasai, died at a Mumbai hospital on Friday night. Members of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) alleged that on November 8, the girl and four other students were made to do 100 sit-ups each for reaching school late.

The victim's mother claimed her daughter died because of the “inhuman punishment,” alleging that the teacher made her perform the sit-ups with her school bag strapped to her back. She said her daughter complained of severe neck and back pain soon after the punishment and was unable to get up.

Sachin More, an MNS leader from Vasai, said the girl had pre-existing health issues yet was still subjected to the punishment. A teacher from the school, however, said the exact number of sit-ups the girl performed was unclear and that it was unknown whether the punishment directly caused her death.

Block Education Officer Pandurang Galange confirmed that an inquiry is underway to determine the cause of death. No police complaint has been filed so far, officials said.

The girl’s mother said her daughter’s condition deteriorated rapidly after the punishment. She confronted the teacher, who allegedly defended the action by saying students are punished because parents accuse teachers of not teaching despite taking fees. The mother asserted that forcing a child to perform sit-ups with a heavy bag amounted to inhuman punishment and led to her daughter’s death.

Source: India Today