States » NorthPosted at: Nov 4 2026 4:46PM


Panchkula school assault: Women’s Commission chief urges limited phone use, more parental supervision

Kamlesh Kali
Panchkula, Nov 4 (UNI) Haryana State Commission for Women Chairperson Usha Priyadarshini, on Wednesday, called for restricting mobile phone access for children until Class XII and greater parental supervision of online activities, as she condemned the assault of a six-year-old girl by an eight-year-old student at a government school in Panchkula.
Addressing a press conference, Priyadarshini described the October 28 incident at Government Model Sanskriti Senior Secondary School in Sector 20 as deeply disturbing and stressed the need for parents, schools and society to work together to ensure children's safety and well-being.
Referring to CCTV footage of the incident, she expressed concern over the nature of the assault and said it raised important questions that required careful consideration."Why has so much cruelty entered the mind of such a young child? This is a question that all of us need to think about," she said.
Priyadarshini emphasised that the responsibility for children's upbringing and welfare could not rest solely with educational institutions.She urged parents to remain actively involved in their children's daily activities, maintain regular communication with them and pay attention to their emotional well-being.
Expressing concern over children's increasing use of smartphones, Priyadarshini advocated limiting their access to mobile phones until they complete Class XII."I believe children should not be provided mobile phones until Class XII," she said.
She said parents needed to be aware of the content their children accessed through social media platforms, messaging applications and online gaming services.
According to Priyadarshini, some children used mobile phones late at night under the pretext of studying while spending time on social media and other online activities."Children say they are studying, but many of them are using social media, chatting and spending time on Instagram," she said.
Responding to questions about online gaming, she also expressed concern about children's exposure to age-inappropriate digital content and urged parents to exercise greater supervision.
Her remarks were part of a broader appeal for responsible technology use among schoolchildren. She did not present evidence linking mobile phone use, social media or online gaming to the Panchkula assault.
Priyadarshini said the Haryana State Commission for Women had taken cognisance of the incident and would support the injured girl and her family."The Commission is with the girl. We have taken cognisance of the matter, and she will get justice," she said.
The chairperson welcomed the improvement in the child's condition following treatment at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh.
The six-year-old girl, who suffered serious head and facial injuries in the October 28 assault, was discharged from PGIMER on Wednesday after approximately a week of hospitalisation.
Priyadarshini said the case underscored the importance of ensuring a safe environment for children and addressing concerns about their welfare through cooperation between parents, schools and relevant authorities.
Asked whether the accused boy's parents could be held responsible for his conduct, she cautioned against assigning blame without examining the circumstances.She said the matter required careful consideration rather than immediate conclusions about individual responsibility.
Priyadarshini said parents and educational institutions had an important role in ensuring children's safety and welfare.She urged families to remain attentive to children's activities and maintain communication with teachers and school authorities.
She said safeguarding children required a coordinated approach involving families, educational institutions and society.
She reiterated that the Commission would stand with the injured girl and support efforts to ensure that the case was dealt with appropriately by the authorities.The investigation into the assault and the alleged lapses in school supervision remains underway.
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