'Ma'am, I didn't take the pen': 4 UP school staff booked for harassing Class 2 student; child wrote ‘Help’ on books, walls

KANPUR: Four staff members of a private school have been booked for allegedly mentally harassing an eight-year-old boy after accusing him of stealing a pen, police said on Friday.The incident came to light after the Class 2 student began showing signs of distress, including writing the word “Help” in his books and on the walls of his house, and crying in his sleep, according to a complaint filed by the boy’s parents.Based on the complaint, an FIR was registered on December 23 against four staff members of the private school in Sen Paschim Para, Kanpur. Those named include the school’s director Devraj Singh Rajawat, principal Anuprit Rawal, and teachers Sangeeta Malik and Swatantra Agnihotri, police said.In her complaint, the child’s mother alleged that her son was falsely accused of stealing a pen and subjected to mental harassment. She stated that her son was summoned to the school on December 12 over an incident that allegedly occurred on November 28 — a day when he had not attended school.The family noticed behavioural changes in the child, who became withdrawn and woke up crying at night, saying, "Ma'am, I didn't take the pen." He also began writing the word "Help" in his books and the walls of his home, the family said.The complaint further alleged that the child was coerced into recording a “confession video”. It also stated that the school refused to share CCTV footage and instead pressured the family to pay for the pen.Police said notices were issued to the accused, but they failed to appear at the police station."An FIR has been registered and the matter is under investigation," said Station Officer Pradeep Kumar Singh. (With agency inputs)