NEW DELHI: Delhi Police on Sunday denied permission for organizing a candle march at the India Gate scheduled to demand justice for Pradhuman Thakur, who was found dead inside his Gurugram school last month. Due to the last minute denial by Delhi police, Pradhuman Foundation management changed the venue and shifted the protest to Ramlila Maidan. Father of Pradhuman Barun Chandra Thakur said that last minute denial of permission was ‘unfortunate,’ but protest was organized at Ramlila Maidan attended by family and friends.
"It is very unfortunate and condemning that the Ministry of Home Affairs and Delhi Police has refused to accord permission to canvass a cause for children and an attempt has been made to suppress the sentiments prevalent across the nation pertaining to the safety and security of the children," he said in a statement. He said the government "wants the vulnerability of the children to remain as they are not the vote bank" and condemned the order "in strongest possible words".
A student of Class 2 at Gurugram's Ryan International School, Pradhuman was killed on the morning of 8 September. His body was found in the school bathroom. The Haryana Police said that he was killed by bus conductor Ashok Kumar inside the toilet as the boy resisted a bid to sodomise him.
While Kumar has been arrested, his parents and two other staffers claim he was being made a scapegoat.