Police in North Sumatra are investigating the tragic case of a 14-year-old student who died after being punished with 100 squat jumps for failing to memorize Bible verses. The incident, which occurred in Deli Serdang regency, has sparked outrage on social media. The religious teacher responsible for the punishment, Ms Selly Winda Hutapea, has been suspended pending the outcome of the investigation. The victim, Rindu Syahputra Sinaga, passed away a week after the punishment, suffering from discomfort and high fever.
The victim’s mother, Mdm Yuliana Derma Padang, has stated that her son’s health deteriorated significantly after the punishment. Rindu complained of leg pain and high fever after being made to do 100 squat jumps. This was the first time such an incident had occurred. Mdm Yuliana recounted her son’s plea for the teacher to be put in jail to prevent similar incidents from happening again. Despite believing that the punishment led to her son’s death, she does not want an autopsy to be conducted and is calling for an investigation to prevent future occurrences.
Rindu was initially treated at a nearby clinic and later transferred to Sembiring Hospital, where he passed away on Sep 26. Mdm Yuliana is adamant that the punishment contributed to her son’s death but is reluctant to have his body dissected for an autopsy. She is urging authorities to investigate the case to prevent such tragedies in the future. Police commissioner Risqi Akbar has confirmed that an investigation is underway, with officers on the ground. The police are planning to exhume the body on Oct 1 to determine the cause of death.
Despite the tragic outcome, Ms Hutapea has expressed remorse over the incident. According to Mr Muriadi, head of the Deli Serdang education council, the teacher did not expect such a consequence from the punishment. Ms Hutapea has been a substitute teacher for Christian religious education since January and was appointed after the previous teacher retired. She has been temporarily suspended to prevent further incidents. The community is shocked by the death of Rindu, and the incident has raised questions about the use of corporal punishment in schools. Authorities are being called upon to ensure the safety and well-being of students in educational institutions.
