Three days after a 7-year-old was murdered in Ryan International School, Gurugram, police stated that the school’s management is "cooperating to our fullest" with the police investigations, and hoped that the guilty would be given the severest punishment as per the law.
In a statement, Ryan Pinto, CEO of Ryan International Schools Group, said the school should not be held "culpable of a crime where the school is itself a victim of unfortunate circumstances."
Insisting that the well-being and safety of the students is the school's priority, Pinto said,
We will not succumb to all the various false allegations being made, nor will we fuel the various controversies being spread. We should not unjustly be blamed or branded as the perpetrators.
He said the Ryan International Group of Schools was facing "one of its saddest periods" since its inception, due to the loss of life of one of its innocent students, as a result of a reprehensible crime.
We are all in shock by the horror of this crime that occurred, despite various security protocols...We share the deep pain and grief of the bereaved parents and family in this darkest hour. On behalf of the entire school staff, students and management, we want to extend our heartfelt condolences to the family.
"It is understandable that everyone is seeking answers. So are we, and we are cooperating to our fullest with the police investigations," said Pinto.
He said Ryan has a four-decade-long reputation "as a credible educational institution educating lakhs of students across the nation. We would like to emphasise that Ryan School takes all efforts to ensure the security of its students."
The CEO said the the school is cooperating fully with the investigating authorities and “we have total faith in the law. We hope that the investigations will be concluded soon, and the guilty will get the severest punishment as per the due process of law.”
While expressing confidence that "the truth will ultimately prevail", he said, "Once again, we extend our heartfelt condolences to Pradyuman's parents, and we pray that God Almighty would bestow his everlasting peace on the departed soul."
(With inputs from PTI)
(#TalkingStalking: Have you ever been stalked? Share your experience with The Quint and inspire others to shatter the silence surrounding stalking. Send your stories to editor@thequint.com or WhatsApp @ +919999008335)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)