Aunt of beaten student threatens legal action

THE AUNT of one of the pupils beaten by gang members of the Cedros Composite school says she intends to take legal action against the pupils who attacked her nephew. Darius Rajkumar, 16, a form five pupil, underwent emergency surgery at the San Fernando General Hospital yesterday for a broken jaw. He was subsequently discharged yesterday evening. Inside sources told Newsday that 30 pupils believed to be part a gang are expected to face suspension as of next week. Pending investigation by the Ministry of Education, some of them may even be expelled, sources said. Four pupils are also expected to face criminal charges. The pupils involved in the incident returned to school yesterday accompanied by their parents and were told that this course of action (criminal proceedings) may be taken against them.

The Ministry launched the investigation after parents shut down the school on Wednesday, in protest. They used a burning barricade to block the road in protest of the gang members, who the parents claimed were “bullying” younger children at the school. The gang members are pupils from Point Fortin and neighbouring areas. Cedros police investigators told Newsday that fights among the pupils were not unusual, but they normally take place after school hours. They said the pupils from Cedros and those from other areas fight among themselves over girlfriends and turf. When Newsday visited, Rajkumar’s aunt Angela Jerome said she would not be taking this incident lightly. “I am trying to find out what legal action I can pursue against these children. I am not taking this so,” she said.

Describing Rajkumar, fondly known as “Boboy,” as a cool, shy person, she said he told her that he was having lunch when 40 to 50 boys attacked him with chair parts. “He couldn’t even walk. His friend, Eldon Brown, tried to help him and he was beaten too,” she said. Adding that: “these things always happening. The Point Fortin children don’t want the Cedros children in the school. This is not the first time he was bullied. They always tapping him or taking his money,” she said. When Newsday visited the school yesterday the principal, Jean Barcus, refused to comment on the incident, referring the media to the Ministry of Education.