On July 8, 2026, a 12-year-old student, Gurukiran, collapsed and died during the morning jogging session at a residential school in Bengaluru's Kadayarappanahalli area. The school's administration reported that Gurukiran completed two rounds of jogging and collapsed during the third. He was immediately taken to a hospital but was declared dead upon arrival. The school informed his parents around 6 a.m. about his sudden illness.
However, Gurukiran's family and classmates allege that the school's physical education teacher, Narayan, assaulted Gurukiran with a rod inside the washroom and struck him on the neck. After the alleged assault, the teacher reportedly forced Gurukiran to run two rounds of the school campus, during which he collapsed. The family believes that the assault led to their son's death.
A classmate of Gurukiran corroborated the family's allegations, stating that the teacher frequently beat students with sticks and rods over minor issues. The student also claimed that children at the school were often punished for trivial matters and that the quality of food served in the hostel was poor.
Tensions escalated when Gurukiran's relatives and local residents gathered outside the school, demanding justice. The protesters allegedly assaulted the physical education teacher, leading to police intervention. Authorities have registered a case under Section 106 (murder) of the BNS at the Bagaluru police station. The teacher is currently being questioned, and further action will be taken based on the postmortem report and other evidence collected during the investigation.
The incident has raised serious concerns about the safety and well-being of students in residential schools. The family and local community are demanding a thorough investigation and strict action against those responsible for Gurukiran's death.