PT teacher arrested over ‘duck walk’ death

Jaya Singh (38), a resident of Madhavaram, has been booked under Section 304-A for causing death due to negligence and Section 23 of Juvenile Justice Care and Protection of Children Act. 

The school headmaster Arul Lourdusamy is also being interrogated, police said. An FIR was recorded on Wednesday night after which a team led by inspector Thamizhvanan verified the CCTV footage on the school premises to check whether Narendar fell unconscious during the prayer as claimed by the school administration. 

In his complaint, Narendar’s father R Murali had said that the school administration made Narendar and a few others do ‘duck walk’ as punishment for reporting late to school.

The inspector said that students being punished is not clearly recorded, but the footage of Narendar being taken to hospital in auto rickshaw is available. The inspector quoted the doctors who performed post-mortem examination on Narendar that there were no external injuries on him or any specific factors leading to his sudden death. 

“Though it could be considered a natural death, we are awaiting the final results,” said the official. Meanwhile, neighbours of Narendar staged a protest in Thiru Vi Ka Nagar demanding action against the school administration as they allegedly delayed Narendar’s admission in hospital.