LAHORE: Four girls involved in torturing and bullying their classmate were suspended by the private school administration in the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) on Tuesday. The victim was also suspended by the school.

Last week, the four suspects were booked for allegedly manhandling their class fellow at a Lahore school. They were later granted pre-arrest bail against surety bonds worth Rs50,000 each. The court also barred the police from arresting them till Jan 30.

The school administration said that the girls were suspended till the investigation of the case is completed. The administration formed a three-member committee to investigate the incident.

The inquiry was conducted by the Lahore Elementary School Education’s female district officer, deputy district officer, Cantt, and the deputy district officer, Model Town.

According to the report, the incident took place outside the cafeteria of the school in which four female students had tortured their class fellow.

The students involved in the matter were friends and developed a grudge over sharing the pictures of a student party outside the school with parents. There are no security cameras installed at the entrance to the cafeteria.

The inquiry team recommended Rs600,000 penalty on the school or suspension of its registration and directed to expel the students who manhandled the victim.

The inquiry report comprising the recommendations has been sent to the Lahore deputy commissioner, who had ordered the probe right after the matter came to light.

On Jan 21, the police lodged the first information report (FIR) against the suspects under sections 337A (i), 354, and 379 of the PPC after a video of the girl students beating the victim went viral on social media.

Victim’s father Imran Younas lodged the case and alleged in the FIR that his daughter’s schoolmate is a drug addict who wanted his daughter to join her company.

He also alleged that his daughter’s gold chain and a locket were also snatched by the suspects while they were attacking her.

He said his daughter was tortured by two sisters when she refused to join their group.

According to the FIR, the suspects attacked the victim, dragged her to the canteen, and humiliated her there.

The victim’s father said that he has also approached the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), seeking action against those who uploaded the video on social media.

In the video, the victim can be seen crying for help while a girl can be seen sitting on her back, arm-twisting and hurling abuse at her.

A second girl can also be seen walking to the victim and sitting on her back as the third slaps her. The victim reportedly received injuries on her face and was transported to a hospital for treatment.

Published in Dawn, January 25th, 2023