A class 7 girl was booked after her school accused her of trying to poison the midday meal served to students to avenge her brother’s murder, allegedly committed by a fellow student.
The school in Baulia village under Bankata police station alleged that she put a poisonous substance into the dal being cooked there.
Deoria Police registered a case under sections 328 (causing hurt by means of poison) and 511 (punishment for attempting to commit offence punishable with life imprisonment) of the Indian Penal Code, on Tuesday. Bankati station house officer Devendra Pratap Singh said the girl was being sent to a juvenile home.
The girl’s brother, a class 3 student, died in April 2018 after being hit with a stone on his head during a fight. A class 5 student has been accused of murder for the boy’s death and is in a juvenile home.
By mixing the poison in the dal, the girl wanted to take revenge on everybody, police said.
The girl has denied the charges, while her mother says that her daughter is being framed.
None of the students had eaten the food, but were examined by a team of doctors nevertheless and found to be in good health.
RP Pandey, district officer, food security and drug administration, said, “The report of the food sample sent to the lab is awaited. It will probably come in two or three days.” Meanwhile, the school reopened and regular classes were held on Wednesday.
According to the complaint, school cook Radhika noticed the girl going into the kitchen as she served rice to the children around 10:30 am.
The cook followed the child and found that her hands smelled. She also saw a white layer coating the ‘daal’ that was to be served to the children, the police said.
With the help of another cook, she locked up the girl in the kitchen and informed school principal Bhrigunath Prasad.
As this news spread, villagers surrounded the school and started beating the girl’s mother.
The police and a team from the food safety and drug administration department reached the school.
The police then detained the girl and her mother.
(With PTI inputs)
