The Delhi government has initiated a high-level investigation and a prominent city school has suspended multiple teachers following the tragic suicide of a 16-year-old student. The incident has cast a spotlight on student welfare amidst a parallel public health crisis as the capital's air quality deteriorates to severe levels.
Student Tragedy Sparks Protests and Suspensions
The crisis unfolded after a Class 10 student from St. Columba's School ended his life by jumping at the Rajendra Place metro station on November 18. The student's family has come forward with serious allegations, claiming the teenager faced persistent harassment from his teachers, which they believe led to the extreme step.
In a significant development two days after the incident, the school administration placed four members of its teaching staff under suspension. This move came alongside growing public outrage, with students and parents gathering outside the school in Ashok Place on Thursday to protest the death and demand accountability.
Responding to the gravity of the situation, the Delhi government constituted a 'high-level' committee to conduct a thorough probe into the circumstances surrounding the student's suicide. The committee is expected to investigate the allegations of harassment and review the school's internal protocols.
Capital Chokes Under Severe Air Pollution
As the city grapples with this human tragedy, an environmental crisis continues to worsen. On the morning of Friday, November 21, the air quality index (AQI) in Delhi registered an alarming 455, a level considered 'severe' and hazardous to health. Data from the air quality tracker aqi.in indicated that breathing this polluted air is equivalent to smoking nearly 11 cigarettes a day.
Due to the persistently high pollution, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has enforced the Graded Response Action Plan Stage-III (GRAP-3). This stage involves stringent measures aimed at reducing pollution emissions, including restrictions on certain types of vehicles and construction activities.
Ongoing Legal Proceedings in Red Fort Case
In a separate development related to law and order, a Delhi court on Thursday sent four individuals to 10-day National Investigation Agency (NIA) custody. The accused, identified as Muzammil Ahmad Ganai, Adeel Ahmed Rather, Shaheen Saeed Ansari, and Mufti Irfan Ahmad Wagay, are close associates of Umar Nabi, the alleged driver of the i20 car that exploded near the Red Fort on November 10. The NIA, which had taken them into custody in Srinagar earlier in the day, produced them before the Patiala House Court in Delhi.
The convergence of these events paints a picture of a capital city confronting multiple challenges, from ensuring the safety and mental well-being of its youth to battling a perennial environmental emergency and addressing security concerns.
