Divya Kumari Gupta, 19, was allegedly beaten and mentally tortured on September 15 by principal Draupadi Minj before the school assembly
NEW DELHI — A shocking incident has come to light from a school in Jharkhand’s Garhwa district where a 19-year-old girl student lost her life on Tuesday after the principal scolded her and beat her up for allegedly wearing slippers in school. The girl was subjected to humiliation in the presence of all students and other school staff.
The incident has triggered widespread outrage and protests in the area, with locals demanding strict action against the school authorities.
According to media reports reaching here, Divya Kumari Gupta from Ugra village, a student of Class XII in Pariyojna High School in Bargarh, was scolded and beaten up by the school principal before the school assembly for not wearing shoes.
Family members of the victim claimed the child had been unable to afford shoes as her parents are daily wage labourers struggling to make ends meet.
According to father of the victim, Anjay Gupta, the incident took place on September 15 when the principal, Draupadi Minj, berated and beat up Divya for not wearing shoes. “After returning home, she cried for two days and stopped eating properly. She was deeply disturbed,” her father reportedly said.
When Divya’s health worsened, her family took her to Daltonganj for treatment. She was later referred to the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Ranchi, where she remained in a coma until her death on Tuesday.
The news of the death of the student sparked violent protests. Angry villagers and family members of the victim blocked the Bargarh–Bhandaria Road with her body, demanding the arrest of the principal and action against the school management.
Protesters shouted slogans, burned tyres, and refused to move until the authorities promised action, according to reports.
The protest ended only after MP VD Ram met the family and assured them that strict action would be taken. The District Education Officer also suspended the principal and formed a committee to investigate the incident.
The state education department has ordered a departmental inquiry and assured that strict action will be taken if negligence or abuse of power is found.
Block Development Officer Amit Kumar, assured the protesters “We will look into the case and take strict action against whoever is responsible for the girl’s death.”
Police officials also confirmed that an FIR had been filed and an investigation was in progress.
The tragedy has reignited the debate on corporal punishment and inequality in India’s government schools, where many students from marginalised backgrounds continue to face humiliation over poverty-linked issues such as uniforms, shoes, or school supplies.
