Probe reveals lapse on part of school

As mystery continues to shroud the drowning of the six-year-old student of Ryan International School on Saturday, investigations have revealed that the back door of the amphitheatre, in whose water tank Devansh Meena had fallen, was open, suggesting some lapse. This, the cops said, has come to the fore after questioning of a key witness.

A senior police officer said: “The back door of the school amphitheatre was found open,” adding, “There is a possibility that the child wandered inside seeing the door open pointing to negligence.”

The police said that it was the electrician who while searching the premises spotted the door open and went inside with a torch to check. He immediately called for help after which the swimming coach and a Class 11 student came inside to help him fish out the body from the water tank whose cover was half open.

“The statements of at least 12 people have been recorded so far, including the electrician, the Class 11 student, forensic experts, AIIMS doctors, school staff and doctors of Indian Spinal Injuries Centre (ISIC),” said the police, adding, “We tried to establish the exact sequence of events at the crime scene today in order to ascertain the exact cause of the death.”

Deputy commissioner of police, south district, Prem Nath said: “We cannot rule out anything yet.”

The sub-divisional magistrate also visited the school on Monday along with the investigators.

The autopsy report, meanwhile, has suggested that the boy died of “drowning but there is ambiguity whether he was forced inside the pit or he fell into it accidentally.”

“No injury marks or other marks were found on the child’s body. There was water in his lungs.”

Devansh’s father Ram Heth Meena on Monday reiterated his claim that he suspects foul play. “A boy like him could not have entered the amphitheatre. I believe school authorities are hiding something,” he said, adding, “The police in its report has mentioned that the boy had vanished at 12.20 pm, however, I know that he had been missing since 10 am, but the school did not inform anyone.”