8-yr-old accused gets bail in Haryana KG student assault

Haryana’s Juvenile Justice Board has granted bail to the eight-year-old caught on camera brutally beating a six-year-old girl inside a classroom in Panchkula.

The Board has directed authorities to remove videos of the assault from social media.

On October 28, a Class 3 student allegedly attacked a kindergarten girl with a brick and repeatedly struck her on the head after dragging her by her hair. The assault was captured on a closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera, with the disturbing visuals sparking widespread outrage.

The accused boy’s father submitted a bail application on November 4 before the Juvenile Justice Board, which said his child had cooperated with the probe. Stressing that the Class 3 student had no prior criminal record, the application said his prolonged custody would hinder his education, academic progress, and overall development.

The parents declared they would provide the child with counselling, behaviour guidance and rehabilitation measures by competent authorities. They said they would take responsibility for his medical care, upbringing and education, ensuring that he appeared before the board whenever directed.

The bail application contended that custodial interrogation was unnecessary, adding that it would be of no useful purpose.

The six-year-old girl has improved significantly while recovering at PGIMER in Chandigarh after initially fighting for her life.

She was first taken to Panchkula’s Civil Hospital in Sector 6, but due to her severe injuries, she was transferred to PGI.

Recent video footage shows her smiling in her mother’s lap and during a video call with her uncle, Fazil, who shared that she is doing much better. Her family views her recovery as a miracle. She was discharged on November 4, though her parents are avoiding any talk of the assault to protect her mental health.

Govt orders probe, FIR registered

The state government on October 31 ordered a probe into the assault while the police registered a first information report (FIR) against the school administration for alleged negligence.

The Haryana State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (HSCPCR) also took suo motu cognisance of the incident, which took place on October 28.

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