Student dies after being slapped by school principal for wearing slippers

 

By Sumesh Rajan | October 15, 2025

Garhwa, Jharkhand, INDIA: In a deeply disturbing incident from Jharkhand’s Garhwa district, a Class 12 student, Divya Kumari, lost her life nearly a month after she was allegedly slapped by her school principal for wearing slippers to class. The 17-year-old girl reportedly fell into depression following the public humiliation and later died while undergoing treatment at the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Ranchi.

According to the police, the incident occurred on September 15, when Divya, a student of a government-run school, attended the morning assembly wearing slippers instead of shoes — a violation of the school’s dress code. The principal-in-charge, Droupadi Minz, allegedly scolded and slapped her in front of other students for not adhering to the rules.

Though Divya did not suffer any visible physical injury, her family said she became withdrawn and distressed in the days following the incident. Over time, she developed symptoms of depression and her health began to deteriorate. Initially, she was taken to a hospital in Daltonganj for treatment, but her condition worsened, prompting doctors to refer her to RIMS in Ranchi, where she succumbed on Tuesday.

Following her death, Divya’s parents lodged a formal complaint with the Bargarh police station, accusing the principal of mental torture that ultimately led to their daughter’s death.

Soon after the news spread, grief and anger engulfed the area. Family members and villagers gathered at Tehri Bhandaria Chowk, placing Divya’s body on the main road and staging a blockade that lasted over three hours. The protestors raised slogans against the school administration and demanded the immediate arrest of Principal Minz.

Senior police officials and district administration representatives rushed to the scene and assured the agitated crowd that strict action would be taken after a full investigation. The blockade was lifted only after the administration’s intervention.

When contacted, Principal Droupadi Minz refused to comment on the allegations. Police officials said the investigation is ongoing, and the cause of death will be confirmed after the post-mortem report.

This shocking incident has once again drawn attention to the issue of corporal punishment and mental harassment in schools, raising questions about the culture of excessive discipline and humiliation that continues to plague India’s education system despite strict laws prohibiting such behavior.

Incidentally, a similar case was reported earlier this year in Jamnagar, Gujarat, where a teacher at Swaminarayan Gurukul School allegedly cut off a student’s hair with a blade because she came to school without applying oil to it. The student’s family lodged a complaint with the District Education Officer, following which the teacher was suspended after an internal inquiry.

Both incidents highlight the alarming persistence of harsh disciplinary practices in educational institutions — often leading to irreversible trauma for young students and sparking nationwide outrage over the urgent need for stricter enforcement of child protection laws in schools.