Assam: School Student Dies After Alleged Assault, Students Pay Tribute to Deceased Classmate

Guwahati: A tense situation continues to prevail in Assam's Phillobari under the Tinsukia district following the alleged death of a Class VIII student due to corporal punishment by a teacher.

The incident occurred on February 6 at Sankardev Sishu Niketan, Phillobari, where a teacher, identified as Sanjib Sharma, was accused of assaulting a 13-year-old student, Utpal Taye, who later reportedly died. The incident sparked widespread outrage in the area, leading to the temporary closure of the school and repeated protests over the past several days.

On Saturday morning, a group of students, along with their parents, gathered at the school premises demanding that the institution be reopened. Holding placards with slogans such as “Do not deprive us of education,” “Allow us to appear for our examinations,” “Return our school to us,” “Give justice to our friend Utpal Taye,” and “Grant strict punishment to the guilty,” the students staged a silent protest in front of the school gate.

After some time, the school gate was opened, and the students entered the campus, which had remained closed since the day of the incident. The students cleaned the premises and paid tribute to the deceased by lighting candles in front of Utpal Taye’s photograph and observing a one-minute silence in his memory.

Meanwhile, the Phillobari Regional Students’ Union has urged the district administration to restore the academic environment at the earliest and take necessary steps to safeguard the future of nearly 600 students enrolled in the institution. 

ALSO READ: Assam Shocker: 13-Year-Old Student Dies After Alleged Beating by Teacher in Tinsukia