The body of the Standard VI student of the local Centre Point School was found on Sunday afternoon in a open well about 25 feet from the school premises. The boy was reported missing from the school since 1.05 pm on Saturday.

The absence of a boundary wall between the school and the adjacent plot on which the well -- which again is almost below ground level and surrounded by low bushes -- may substantiate the claim that Hitesh might have accidentally fallen in it. But the string of incidents that preceded the event, makes it appear far too much of a coincidence.

The fact that the child could sneak out of his classroom and reach the well completely unnoticed also points to negligence by the schoolauthorities.

As per the events reconstructed by Khemchand Patel, Hitesh's father and the school authorities, the class teacher of Hitesh -- Rekha Rao -- had written a note in his diary on Thursday, July 1, asking his parents to meet her on Saturday after school.

Khemchand Patel, while speaking to The Indian Express maintained that the family members did not notice anything unusual in the child's behaviour. When asked the reason for them being summoned to the school, the child denied knowing the reason. Patel said that it was the teacher who said that some expensive toys had been recovered from Hitesh and this was the reason.

He said that when he reached the school on Saturday at 2.15 pm, he could not find his son. He was told that Hitesh had not been seen in the class since 1 pm.

Hitesh's relatives then joined the school authorities in the search of the child. Patel contacted his residence, but was told that he had not reached there. He lodged a missing report with the Lakadganj Police Stationat 7.30 pm.

The child was found on Sunday afternoon by some slum-dwellers who lived nearby.

The principal of the school and Rao mentioned that the child was neither punished nor severely scolded. They said that as this was the second incident in few months when expensive toys were recovered from Hitesh and his parents summoned. In April, Hitesh is said to have sold a videogame to a classmate. He claimed that he found the videogame near the Seminary Hills. This time, Hitesh was found to possess two laser torches, which he said were gifts from his father and friend.

On the fateful day, Hitesh is said to have behaved normally in the classroom. The school authorities, however, claimed that some family members mentioned that the child was ``agitated and angry'' on the day of the incident.

The school authorities also maintained that no one noticed the child after 1.05 pm on Saturday. Neither do the slum-dwellers near the well remember having noticed him. The easy access to the open well near the school andthe fact that the child could sneak out completely unnoticed points to negligence on the part of the school authorities. The authorities said that a boundary wall cannot be constructed as a court case is pending with the Forest Housing Society, which owns the adjacent land.