GUWAHATI: The Additional Sessions Court at Amingaon in Kamrup has sentenced a school vice principal and a computer teacher to seven years' imprisonment in connection with the death of a 12-year-old student following corporal punishment in 2010.
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The case relates to the death of Mausam Raj Mahanta, a Class VI student of Saraswati Siksha Niketan in Mirza. According to court records, on May 25, 2010, the student was allegedly beaten by computer teacher Ajay Kumar Singh for failing to complete his homework. Singh reportedly struck the boy multiple times on his left knee with a stick before taking him to Vice Principal Prasun Goswami, who also hit him on the same knee.
The injuries subsequently developed into septic arthritis and myositis, leading to septic shock. Mahanta died at GNRC Hospital in Guwahati on June 7, 2010.
In its judgment, the court observed that the accused acted on “diabolic instincts” and held that two adults repeatedly assaulting a child must be presumed to have known that such actions were likely to cause death.
The court convicted both Singh and Goswami under Sections 325 and 304 Part II read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code.
For the offence under Section 325 IPC, the court awarded one year of imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹10,000 on each convict. For the offence under Section 304 Part II IPC, both were sentenced to seven years' imprisonment and fined ₹10,000 each. In default of payment of the fines, they will undergo an additional six months of simple imprisonment.
The court further directed the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Kamrup, to conduct an inquiry and award compensation to the deceased student's parents in accordance with legal provisions.
