A 19-year-old Class 12 student from Jharkhand’s Garhwa district died on Tuesday after being in a coma for nearly a month. Her family has accused her school principal of mentally torturing and beating her in front of other students for wearing slippers to school.
The student, identified as Divya Kumari Gupta from Ugra village, studied at Pariyojna High School in Bargarh. Her father, Anjay Gupta, said the incident took place on September 15 when the principal, Draupadi Minj, scolded and hit Divya during the school assembly for not wearing shoes. “After returning home, she cried for two days and stopped eating properly. She was deeply disturbed,” her father said.
Divya’s health worsened soon after, and her family took her to Daltonganj for treatment. She was later referred to the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Ranchi, where she remained in a coma until she passed away on Tuesday.
After her death, angry villagers and family members blocked the Bargarh–Bhandaria Road with her body, demanding the arrest of the principal and action against the school management. Protesters shouted slogans, burned tyres, and refused to move until the authorities promised action.
The protest continued for four hours and ended only after MP V.D. Ram met the family and assured them that strict action would be taken. Following the protest, the District Education Officer suspended the principal and formed a committee to investigate the incident.
“We will look into the case and take strict action against whoever is responsible for the girl’s death,” said Block Development Officer Amit Kumar. Police officials also confirmed that an FIR had been filed and an investigation was in progress.
