Say no to ragging

Mumbai ICSE board plans anti-ragging squads in schools Deepti Khera, Hindustan Times Mumbai, September 30, 2011 Email to Author First Published: 01:44 IST(30/9/2011) Last Updated: 01:45 IST(30/9/2011) Share more... 0 Comments Email print After a prank played on a 14-year-old student of an ICSE school went horribly wrong last week, the ICSE board is considering setting up anti-ragging squads in its schools in the city. The Class 9 student landed in hospital after the prank. The boy, from a reputed school in south Mumbai, had taken a sip of water from his bottle and soon after, complained of pain in his throat. When he started to choke, the school authorities panicked and called a doctor, who advised them to rush the teenager to a hospital. During an endoscopy at Jaslok Hospital, the doctors found a soft board pin lodged in the boy’s intestine. The school later found that one of the boy’s classmates was responsible for putting the pin in his water bottle. The boy was suspended for 15 days and the family had to pay compensation of around Rs25,000. Perin Bagli, secretary of the association of ICSE schools in Maharashtra, said they were planning to form anti-ragging squads to prevent such incidents and discipline children. “I will meet all ICSE school principals and discuss this issue with them,” said Bagli, who is also the principal of Activity High School at Peddar Road. “Disciplinary action is important to put an end to such pranks. Setting up anti-ragging squads may be the solution. We will also form a committee to take care of such complaints.” Bagli is also in talks with the police department and its anti-ragging squad to give lectures to school students.