Thaindian News

New Delhi, Dec 19 (IANS) With “stray” incidents of ragging in Sainik Schools run by the defence ministry being reported from across the country, these were being probed and action taken against the offenders, Defence Minister A.K. Antony informed parliament Monday.

Antony also said in reply to questions in the Lok Sabha that 11 such incidents had been reported in the last three years from the 24 Sainik Schools in the country which have a total 12,885 cadets.

“Stray incidents of ragging and bullying have been reported from Sainik Schools in the past. In the last three years, for a total of 12,885 cadets in 24 schools, a total of 11 incidents have been reported,” he said.

“In Sainik Schools, strict action has always been taken against the perpetrators in all reported and observed cases of ragging,” he said.

With regard to a particular incident of ragging in Tilaiya Sainik School reported in the media, he said no cadet or parent had complained or reported of any ragging to the school authorities in the last three years.

“As per records available in the last three years, no student has left the school due to ragging,” he added.

Antony also informed that a voluntary organisation, Jharkhand Human Rights Movement, has approached the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights regarding the ragging incident in Tilaiya Sainik School and the commission had asked the defence ministry to get the matter investigated to take further necessary action.

The Jharkhand High Court had taken cognizance of the media reports and directed the state government authorities to investigate the matter.

The Jharkhand Human Rights Movement has also approached the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights regarding a second boy, who left school on March 27, 2009, and has not returned since. But the inquiry done by the school revealed that he left school due to home sickness and his father’s ill-health, he added.