Action sought for Class I girl shut in school toilet

Sources said Shajida, a five-year-old student, was studying in Government Muslim Middle School. Shajida went to the toilet in the school around 3.30 pm on Monday. During the school closing time, the authorities, who did know that Shajida was inside the toilet, locked it.

When Shajida’s elder sister Alvia (9), who was also studying in the same school, enquired about her sister with the teachers around 4.10 pm. Teachers told her that Shajida must have gone home.

When Alvia informed her parents that Shajida had not returned home, they rushed to the school to meet the headmistress Shaheen and urged the authorities to check the toilets. At 5.30 pm, Shajida was found crying inside the toilet. The girl said that though she shouted for help, there was no response from any of the school authorities.

As news spread, residents of Basheerabad thronged the school premises and demanded action against the authorities. Police and education officials rushed to the spot to inquire into the issue and later pacifiedthe protestors.