PANCHKULA, India — A six-year-old girl who was attacked inside a classroom at a government school on October 28 remains hospitalized at PGI Chandigarh. She is stable and reportedly out of danger, although her injuries remain serious, according to The Tribune.
The girl did not emerge at the usual pickup time. Her family went looking for her and found her injured in a room that, according to their complaint, had been latched from outside. The family alleges she remained there for about two hours. Their account and the school’s supervision are now central to the investigation.
An eight-year-old boy accused of the assault was sent to an observation home in Ambala under an October 31 order from the Panchkula Juvenile Justice Board. The board scheduled its next hearing for November 4. Authorities are also arranging a psychological assessment. The reason for the attack has not been established.
The school’s principal has been suspended, The Times of India reported. Two teachers were also suspended, according to ThePrint. Police have registered a case over alleged negligence involving school personnel. The investigation has not yet established who failed to act or why the girl’s absence went unnoticed.
For families, the questions reach beyond this one case: Who was supervising the children? Was anyone watching the CCTV feed? What happened when the girl did not come out at pickup? Officials owe parents a clear account of the timeline and of any safety changes that follow.
Both children are minors. Their identities are withheld. The girl continues to receive medical care, while the boy’s case proceeds through the juvenile system.