The protests against Modern School, Vasant Vihar, where a student died following an asthma attack on Monday, took a more serious turn on Thursday, with students and parents taking their agitation inside the campus.

They continued to demand the resignation of the principal, Goldy Malhotra, alleging that Akkriti Bhatia died due to negligence on part of the school. The school, meanwhile, said the matter would be inquired into by an “impartial committee”.

A press conference and parents’ meeting called at the school on Thursday was disrupted after an altercation broke out between the parents and the school management. The school had called parents to hear their opinion on the circumstances that led up to Akkriti’s death. An argument started after the girl’s family blamed the school for the death and demanded Malhotra’s resignation. While a few parents defended the school and said the principal was not at fault, their view was countered by others. With many students joining the argument and shouting slogans against the principal, Malhotra left the auditorium where the meeting was being held.

“We tried the best we could think of in that moment of panic,” said Malhotra amid shouts of “liar, liar”. Veena Bhatia, Akkriti’s mother, shouted at the school’s managing trustee, Ashok Pradhan Singh, for not taking any action after her daughter’s death. “They were careless and now my daughter is no more. I demand justice. The principal and the nurse should be removed on moral grounds,” said Akkriti’s father, Vipin Bhatia.

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