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5 days on, Raunak’s bully still at large
Even after 5 days of Raunak Banerjee’s tragic suicide, the police, the school and parents haven’t been able to find out who bullied Raunak. It is not even clear whether he was bullied school or in the school bus on the fateful day of June 29.
Mystery continues to surround the identity of the bully who tormented Raunak Banerjee, 14, compelling him to jump from the 10th floor of his apartment complex in JP Nagar even after 5 days.
His parents and authorities of Baldwin Boys' High School are clueless about who bullied him. The Police, too, have not made any headway in their investigation. It has not come to light whether the bullying took place in the schoolbus on June 29 or on the school premises.
Describing the events of the fateful day, Raunak’s father, Chandrajoy, said that on June 29, as the chemistry class was cancelled due to the teacher’s absence, the students were instructed to practise Mock United Nations. No teacher was deputed to supervise the activity. "Some student would have troubled Raunak during this time or in the private schoolbus while returning home," he added.
On Monday afternoon, as part of the investigation the police met 16 students who travelled with Raunak on June 29 in the schoolbus. Their parents too were present. A few students confessed to having been bullied. Upon complaining with to the staff, the teachers told them not to worry about such things.
Raunak has left behind a suicide note in his schoolbag which was later recovered by the Police. Rumours are doing the rounds that the suicide note had named the boys who had bullied Raunak. To this, the father said: "Police are not keen on sharing a copy of the note with us. They showed me a page the note. It said, one of my schoolmates bullied me, it has been happening and it is intolerable. Those who I considered my friends have betrayed me'."
Chandrajoy demanded to know whether the suicide note had more than one page. The father said: "Police informed us they would visit our home on June 1 to take a statement from Raunak's mother Rumi, but they haven't met her yet. Because they said they would come on June 1, we postponed the ritual of immersing Raunak's ashes to July 2."
He was deeply disappointed that the school authorities haven't traced the student who bullied Raunak. "5 days is enough for anyone to manipulate any evidence of bullying and even fabricate new things."
The Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has issued notice to Baldwin Boys' High School following the incident. Principal Dinakar Wilson said the school will cooperate with police and Raunak's parents to find out the truth.
The Principal shared the following version of the events of June 29, "On that day, we had a practice class for Mock United Nations…. During the practise session, there were students from other grades too. No teacher monitored them during this time. There are no CCTVs in classrooms and laboratories, but there are 50 CCTVs in corridors and in other parts of the school building. The bullying incident didn't happen in the school; it might have happened outside the school premises. I have checked with teachers and his classmates."
Ajay Seth, principal secretary, primary and secondary education department, said: "The department is in the process of collecting facts from the school. Police investigation is also going on. Once we get the report, we take the next course of action."
It is indeed tragic that a young boy who had his whole life ahead of him chose to put an end to his life. The fact is bullying is taking serious proportions in schools today. However, it is a point to ponder that bullies are not born; it is the responsibility of the parents to integrate better human values of compassion and empathy in their upbringing.
If parents fail at controlling this behaviour of their wards, they too become a party to the damage inflicted by their child. Sensitivity and empathy are the bedrocks of any functional society and it is time to revisit these qualities.