Shahzaib was prevented from leaving school during recess. PHOTO: FILE
FAISALABAD:
A six-year-old boy was tortured to death by his classmates following a dispute over the unlocking of their school’s main gate in Tandlianwala town.
Shahzaib, a pupil at the government-run Primary School No 7 and a resident of Islam Pura neighbourhood, wanted to return home during recess but the students deputed as gatekeepers punched and kicked him, police said.
Shahzaib was seriously wounded in the attack and died on the spot.
His grandmother Meraj Bibi told reporters that the boy was stopped and thrashed by “Arsal, Sher and other students when he was trying to leave the school to go home during recess”.
“When Shahzaib insisted on opening the gate, the other students rained down blows and sticks on him,” she cried.
Muhammad Muazzam, a resident of the neighbourhood where the school is located, said, “When Shahzaib was being beaten, his screams were heard in the locality but the residents could not help him as the school gate was locked from inside.”
Another student said that when the boy was crying for help, some students complained to a school teacher and asked her to take action. “The school teacher did not take any action against the students who tortured Shahzaib, nor did she provide any medical assistance to him.”
Station House Officer of Tandlianwala, Imran Younus said that a case has been registered against three schoolchildren.
He added that students involved in the torture and death of Shahzaib are minors therefore, the police did not arrest them formally.
EDO education said that the administration is also investigating the matter. “If any school teacher is found negligent, strict action will be taken against her,” he said.
Teacher Surraya Bibi denied that Shahzaib was not helped by the school staff. “We rushed to the spot and attempted to provide treatment to Shahzaib but he had passed away as we reached him due to the severity of injuries.”
Published in The Express Tribune, February 27th, 2014.
COMMENTS (34)
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First of all, minors who are 6 year or so old should not be made gate keepers. You need mature person who is respected. . It is like giving gun to a monkey and then blaming him. Only blame lies with teachers/administration. . This is an isolated incident and could we please stop blaming the society. Kids do fight. More kids kill in Europe than in Pakistan. Even in USA, kids sometimes come with gun and kill their class members/teachers.
The teachers are putting false blame on students. . A 6 year cannot kill. I think something fishy on this story .admin involved
The country in which people like Qadri are heroes and you can see him loaded with flowers even by educated ppl , what else do u expect? It's a beginning of new era for all those who have shut their eyes and minds towards the injustice and brutality. This is our next generation. We will reap what we sow.
What I feel is the saddest part of this whole affair is the upbringing of those schoolchildren by their parents and their society. I am just horrified beyond words.
Maybe this is a first in the whole wide world? Wah Pakistan
This is so sickening, its unbelievable! i hope the administration who could hear the child but not rescue him, die of guilt/fear/similar loss.. or worse live in an incessant fear of karma striking whenever! Shame! and Ashamed to be sharing a nationality with them :(
How many lynchings have these kids witnessed in their lives to know that the easiest thing to do in our country is to kill someone out in the open with no one stepping in to save the dying Who does not know that people or the relevant authorities stay away until the deed is done for the fear of being lynched themselves. There is a apt novel which depicts us today to our cores... "LORD OF THE FLIES" This is our legacy for our children. Inalilahi waina Ilaihai Rajayoun
And yet we forget that to HIM we shall return...
How many of these lynching have these kids and the school teacher that was reportedly told about the incident witnessed?? Who does not know by now that the easiest thing to do in our country is to kill someone in front of people without anyone stepping in to help or the relevant authority taking charge for the fear of being lynched themselves. This is simply an example of who we are. There is an apt novel about the state of affairs in our country... "LORD OF THE FLIES" This is our legacy for our children... Inalilahe wa ina ilaihai rajayoun !!!
Such is our Education system !!! speechless , the kind of intolerance & extremist attitude have became a part of our national psyche is dangerous !!!
"If" any schoolteacher is found responsible???
This event goes to show how much aggression is bred into children right from an early age. A society that is heartless, insensitive towards their fellow humans and enraged through the teachings of distorted and corrupted history and religion.
In a country where a Mullah wanted to kill a 6 year mentally retarted girl under blasphemy on false charges of Koran burning, these incidents are no surprise. Children are encouraged to kill sacrificial animals during Ramadan and parents do not think the effect of such barbaric acts on the minds of immature children.
this is the responsibility of parents to teach their kids how to be tolerable and non violent. moms are bus in buying brands, fathers are busy in making money, maids are taking care of kids, and we expect a healthy society?
n middle class, moms are busy in making conspiracies against in laws and other relatives, father are busy in finding the resources for more and more money,, the kids watch them intolerable and disputing on petty things, and learn how to be violent... only the elders are responsible for the violent behavior of this generation... the elders are failed in teaching them how to be a productive member of society
Absolutely disgusting. Reminds me of "The Lord of the Flies". Aside from that the school should have legal action taken against them not only for neglect, criminal charges should be applied for manslaughter for the teaching staff who were negligent.
This is Pakistan. This is our asliyat. This is why we will go no where in life, and are destined to stay in one spot, torture ourselves, and each other.
Its horrible to think an incident like this, strict action should be taken against the children who killed an innocent classmate and the school administration as well.
Why did the school keep students to monitor the gate? After multiple attacks on schools shouldn't it be common practice to have a guard there instead? How did a beating that killed a boy go unnoticed. Its a load of crap and not just the teacher but the administration of the school should be taken to task.
First learn to be Human than Muslim we so proudly claim to be. The society is bone deep-poisoned with violence.
These minors no doubt have seen it all around them, killing for money, killing for religion, what not, and probably did it for fun. Unfortunately in a country where Mullahs focus more on Jihad instead of teaching morals, this WILL happen.
Humanity is above any religion.
Inallilahi Wainna Ilahi Rajioun. May Allah send his soul directly to heaven and provide the family the strength to bear this heavy loss. The school should definitely be held responsible. Older children had no job in acting as gate keepers.
@Arslan:
i dont wht u want to achieve my arresting 8 year old ...
The school administration is to blame here...6 year old are suppose to be constantly supervised and they dont know wht exactly they are doing and the intensity of their actions....use the bulb some time please..!!!!
The teachers should go to jail for negligence. 6 year kids need to be constantly supervised by adults. I don't think there was any supervision in this case.
I am shocked to read this. Who taught these young minds all these violence? This is the state of our next generation.
What an incredible horror!! How can 6 year old kids kill their class fellow with their bear hands and there was no supervision? This is a clear cut case of lack of adult supervision, neglect and bullying... the teachers/people who had put these 'gate guards' should be arrested and tried for the murder of this child. I feel really sorry for the society that these children have to grow up in... tragic to say the least.
We have become animals by nature.....Violent animals!!
It should not be treated as an isolated case. The whole nation from top to bottom suffers from this psychosis. It needs some serious serious thinking and intervention. TV media has also take the blame for showing all the brutalities live, which directly affects the mindset of old and young alike!!
The glorification of violence including making heroes of conquerors, raiders and plunderers is having unintended consequences. Violence and love of Jihad has numbed the senses and brutalized society. I shudder to think of the deleterious consequences on the psyche of young children growing up in this violent environment. Children are the future of society, the prognosis on this score cannot be bleaker.
What else to expect from minors in our country? For the parents and teachers, the only important thing for children is to get grades and pass exams. Making them decent, caring and good humans is not important.
Oh.My.God! The poor 6-year-old child was probably scared of school and wanted to return home during the recess like many of us used to when we were young. Perhaps it was because he was bullied, or may be he just missed his home. I can't imagine his terror. While those boys who killed him belong in juvenile rehabilitation, the school administration deserves to be thoroughly investigated and punished for creating the conditions where this could happen.
A 6 year old beaten to death and Police declares the Murderers as Minors and let them be, wow is this justice. Minor or not they should be penalized. There are jail's for Minors exactly meant for this purpose.
What about the School staff, Teachers, Principle will they walk away from this all. Will there be no justice as to whose ignorance this was.
Pathetice Law and Order situation. Omer Akmal been issued arrest warrant for breaking signal and Murderers roam free.
Shame on Federal Govt.
In fact, the case should be registered against the school administration, which is responsible for the safety and security of students. It was the prime responsibility of school management to have ensured the presence of gatekeeper at the school that could have kept watch on the movement of students. This unfortunate incident could have been avoided, had there been a gatekeeper available at the gate. Simultaneously, the class teacher is also responsible to maintain order and discipline in the class, which also require presence of students in the class, and seeking prior permission from teacher, in case of going outside. The teacher should be investigated. In nutshell, the whole school administration should be brought under investigation and strict action be taken against delinquents.