PANCHKULA — An eight-year-old student allegedly assaulted a six-year-old girl at a government school in Panchkula, Haryana, on October 28, 2026, leaving the younger child with serious head and facial injuries. The incident occurred between 3 pm and 4 pm at Shaheed Major Anuj Rajput Government Model Sanskriti Senior Secondary School in Sector 20, where the boy reportedly took the girl to an empty classroom on the first floor — a room typically used by senior students whose classes had already ended.
According to police and family accounts, the eight-year-old Class 3 student attacked the six-year-old girl repeatedly, hitting her head against a bench and striking her with a brick and other objects. He also allegedly kicked and dragged her before leaving her unconscious. The assault was captured on the school's CCTV cameras.
The girl remained inside the locked classroom for nearly two hours after the alleged assault. She was found only after her auto-rickshaw driver, who normally drops and picks her up, informed her family that she had not reached the designated pick-up point after school. Her father rushed to the campus and, with the help of another child, was led to the classroom where the younger girl was found unconscious and seriously injured.
She was first taken to a private hospital in Panchkula and later shifted to PGIMER, Chandigarh, where she was treated for a nasal fracture and other serious head and facial injuries. As of November 2, 2026, she was showing signs of improvement but had not fully recovered.
The accused boy initially told his parents that other students had assaulted the girl, but after police examined CCTV footage, he allegedly admitted to the attack, claiming the girl used to tease him. The Juvenile Justice Board directed on October 31 that the boy be sent to an observation home in Ambala as a place of safety while the inquiry continues. He is also undergoing a psychological assessment.
The Haryana Education Department suspended the school principal, Neelu, on November 1 under Rule 5 of the Haryana Civil Services (Punishment and Appeal) Rules, 2016. Two Junior Basic Training teachers, Pooja Rani and Simranjeet Kaur, were suspended on October 31 over alleged negligence in supervision. Police registered an FIR on October 31 against the principal, the class in-charge and the school watchman under Section 75 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, which deals with cruelty to a child, and Section 125(b) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, concerning acts endangering life or personal safety.
The incident has drawn attention from child protection authorities. The Haryana State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has sought a detailed report from the District Education Officer. The state government has formed a five-member committee headed by the Panchkula Additional Deputy Commissioner to investigate the assault and possible supervision lapses. The government has also announced a safety audit of schools across Haryana. PGIMER has taken responsibility for the victim's medical expenses.
The case raises questions about school supervision and safety arrangements. The investigation will examine the school's accountability, possible failures in student monitoring and measures to prevent similar incidents.
