Shillong: An 18-year-old from Shillong is now confined to his bed and struggles to walk after a mathematics instructor at a Dehradun coaching centre allegedly forced him to perform an astounding 400 squats as punishment for talking in class.
Varghav Barman, who was diligently preparing for the National Defence Academy entrance examinations at the Centurion Defence Academy in Ballupur Chowk, reportedly sustained severe leg and back injuries, necessitating significant medical intervention and strong pain medication.
The harrowing incident transpired on July 4 when the faculty member, identified only as Jay, discovered Barman engaged in conversation during an ongoing class. The extreme physical exertion rendered the teenager completely incapacitated, making it impossible for him to attend classes the following day due to excruciating pain and swelling.
Despite his valiant attempts to resume his studies on July 7 and 8, Barman continued to suffer from persistent pain, debilitating cramps, and distressing muscle spasms. This alarming deterioration in his health prompted the owner of his paying guest accommodation to rush him to an orthopaedic surgeon. Medical examinations subsequently confirmed the gravity of his injuries, leading to prescriptions for potent painkillers, anti-inflammatory medication, and topical pain relief patches.
Initially, the young student chose to keep the incident hidden from his parents, hoping to spare them undue worry. However, as his condition worsened considerably, he was left with no option but to reveal the truth. Distraught by his son’s plight, Banajit Kumar Barman, his father, lodged a formal police complaint on July 14 at Laban Police Station in Shillong, particularly after the coaching institute allegedly failed to take any appropriate action against the erring instructor.
The family’s earnest efforts to secure justice through the academy’s internal channels proved to be deeply frustrating. While officials at the institute did acknowledge the incident via email on July 10, expressing concern and promising strict action against the faculty member, these assurances were not followed by any tangible steps. A subsequent email sent on July 11, specifically demanding an apology letter from the instructor, also went completely unheeded. The situation took an even more distressing turn when the academy’s legal counsel reportedly contacted the family with what they described as an aggressive tone. This was followed by calls directly to the injured student, demanding immediate verification of documents and even threatening consequences for his absence from classes, despite his clearly stated medical condition. The Barman family has emphatically pointed out that CCTV cameras are installed extensively throughout the coaching centre premises, including within the classrooms, which could potentially provide crucial evidence of the incident. They have voiced particular alarm over what they perceive as the academy’s distressingly casual attitude towards student safety and overall welfare. The case has now been officially transferred to the Dehradun police for further investigation and necessary action.
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