A tragic incident involving the suspicious death of a two-year-old child studying at a play school in Faridabad’s Palla area prompted an inspection on April 17. The joint team from the Child Welfare Committee and the District Child Protection Unit raided Army Public Play and Crèche School and uncovered shocking revelations.

‘They Were Fed And Then Forced To Sleep’

According to the inspection report, around 34 children were found forcibly sleeping in a dark room. It appeared they were fed something and then made to sleep. Children were also found resting in two rooms on the top floor. There were no toys or play facilities inside the building, which was running on a 50-yard plot with severe overcrowding.

Children Abused For Minor Mistakes

“When the team talked to the children, it was found that for even the smallest mistakes they are made to stand like a rooster and are beaten,” said a report. It further added, “The lights of the room are switched off and they are forcibly asked to sleep. If anyone is found awake, he is beaten.”

Expired Food And No Hygiene

The inspection team discovered expired cold drinks, stale kneaded flour, and unhygienic food in the kitchen. “The hygiene level in the school is zero,” officials noted. Some children required immediate medical attention and were referred to a hospital.

Obstruction And No Documentation

The school operator, Pankaj, reportedly tried to obstruct the inspection. He failed to present any recognition documents and did not maintain a register for the 103 children enrolled. No female staff was found on-site during the inspection, and the safety standards were practically non-existent.

Night Stay With No Safety

Around 18 children reportedly stayed in the school overnight, with parents paying ₹8,000–₹9,000 per child for night care and ₹4,000–₹5,000 for day care. “These children are mostly from working families,” said Sunil Yadav, a member of the Child Welfare Committee.

Legal Action Underway

An FIR has been registered at Palla Police Station based on a complaint filed by the Child Welfare Committee. “Sections 75 and 77 of the JJ Act and sections 126, 127 (3)(4) of BNS have been imposed,” said police spokesperson Yashpal Singh. Section 77, which deals with giving intoxicants to children, carries a jail term of up to 7 years and a ₹1 lakh fine.

School Sealed, Investigation On

Following the findings, the school has been sealed and evacuated. “After seeing the statements of the children and the situation here, the school has been evacuated and sealed and an FIR has been lodged against the operator,” said Sunil Yadav. The viscera of the deceased child has been sent to the forensic lab for further examination, as the post-mortem report did not confirm the cause of death.