Calgary family raises safety concerns after 11-year-old autistic boy comes home from school with unexplained injuries

A Calgary family is raising serious safety concerns after their non-verbal, autistic son came home from school with unexplained injuries.

A Calgary family is calling for an independent investigation after their non-verbal, autistic son returned home from school with multiple bruises, scratches and bite-like wounds.

Eleven-year-old Purnayan Mohanta — known as Tirtha — came home from Pineridge School on May 29 with what his father described as “brutal” injuries.

“We just saw these bloody scratches all over his body so brutally,” said Partha Mohanta, Tirtha’s father.

“Our son left for school as a happy, healthy child and came home traumatized with severe injuries. The school has offered no clear explanation. We are devastated.”

According to his parents, Tirtha, who is non-verbal and in Grade 5, returned from school with several marks across his body — including his inner thigh, neck, chin and shoulder — along with apparent bite wounds on his arm.

Mohanta says the family immediately sought medical attention.

“Based on the observation of our family doctor, we were told it appears he was physically hit or abused and that the bite mark on his shoulder and back ‘could not have been done by himself’ so somebody has done something.”

Tirtha’s mother, Mousumi Mohanta, said the discovery also left her devastated and has had to take a leave of absence from her work to now provide extra care for her son.

“As a parent, it is heartbreaking when I see my son with a lot of bruises, a lot of marks like this on his body,” she said.

“He is special. He is non-verbal. So I can feel as a mom the real pain he is going through. He is the most lovable person, not violent at all, he’s very calm, loves to go outside, a good student, good listener, and learner so now we are seeking the truth.”

Family frustrated

The Mohanta family says they contacted Pineridge School and the Calgary Board of Education immediately after noticing the injuries.

“We talked to the front desk receptionist, and they said everybody’s so busy, they didn’t see our email that we sent,” said Mousumi. “So our first impression was really frustrating for us, we felt so ignored.”

Partha says multiple attempts were made to speak with the assistant principal, the principal, and the CBE area director. He says the school initially told him no staff observed the incident or saw any injuries.

“I was told by the school staff that no one has seen the incident. No one noticed these marks as well,” said Partha.

“My son often wears shorts to school so I was confused at how no one was even noticing these injuries on his legs, they were very, very much visible.”

Partha adds that he was later told by Pineridge school staff that an educational assistant admitted to seeing the marks on Tirtha between 10:30 and 11 a.m. the day of the incident and reported it to a teacher — but the school never notified the parents.

“If anything unusual is seen from the kids, the school is supposed to contact the parents,” said Partha. “If they don’t get any suspected answer, they should contact Child Protective Services.”

Mousumi says she also just wants to ensure schools are safe for all children — especially those who cannot speak for themselves.

“We need to assure that school can be a safe place for all children,” she said. “Please take care of your kids. Do not ignore small, small reasons. Be serious about every case.”

No incident observed: school board

In a statement, the Calgary Board of Education said it conducted a “comprehensive investigation” involving all school staff connected to the student, as well as the transportation service provider.

“No staff member observed any incident or interaction that could account for these injuries occurring at school,” the CBE said.

“The investigation also concluded that the class was adequately supervised.”

The board says it remains in contact with the family and has developed a plan to support Tirtha’s return to school in the fall.

“The school has been in contact with the Calgary Police Service. We remain willing to cooperate fully with any external agency, including CPS, should further information become available or should additional inquiries be initiated,” read the statement,

“We are committed to supporting Tirtha’s safety, well-being, and educational needs moving forward.”

Friday night, the province provided the following statement from Alberta Minister of Education and Childcare Demetrios Nicolaides:

“We are aware of the concerns raised by the family regarding their child’s experience at Pineridge School and we recognize that this is a difficult situation, and the safety and well-being of students remains a top priority.

“The Calgary Board of Education has reviewed the matter and is continuing to work with the family to provide appropriate supports. We have also been informed that the Calgary Police Service has completed an internal investigation.

“While we are unable to comment on specifics, Alberta’s government remains in communication with the school board and is committed to supporting safe and inclusive learning environments for all.”

Investigation remains open: CPS

The Calgary Police Service confirmed its child abuse unit has taken over the case.

“We appreciate the public’s patience as we continue to investigate,” police said in a statement to CTV News.

“Investigations such as this can take additional time due to witness statements, medical and digital evidence.”

The Mohanta family says it contacted police the same day the injuries were discovered but was told the school’s internal findings showed no criminal activity.

The hope from family members now is that the involvement of the child abuse unit will lead to a more thorough review.

Systemic changes and accountability needed: Autism Calgary

The executive director of Autism Calgary says the situation involving Tirtha reflects deeper systemic problems in Alberta’s education system — particularly for students with complex needs.

“We’ve seen a substantial decline in resources provided to teachers to support students with diverse learning needs,” said Lyndon Parakin.

“It’s gone from worrying about whether education goals are being met to worrying about whether your child will be safe.”

Parakin says the loss of specialized supports, such as behavioural consultants and classroom therapists, has made it harder for teachers to meet the needs of autistic students — especially those who are non-verbal or have significant sensory and behavioural challenges.

“These are families that are struggling to keep their employment because their students are sent home on a regular basis,” he said. “They come home often in a more diminished capacity than they went to school, and school is not proving to be a safe space for them.”

He adds that recent changes to Alberta’s mandated instructional hours are only making matters worse.

This fall, all school divisions must meet new baseline requirements — 950 hours for Grades 1-9 and 1,000 hours for Grades 10-12 — limiting flexibility for school boards to offer modified schedules for students with complex needs.

“Instead of empowering educators to tailor hours and supports for kids who need a different kind of day, the government is locking everyone into a single standard,” said Parakin.

“It’s removing individualized programming at a time when the system is already stretched.”

He says the province needs to revisit its approach to inclusive education and introduce clear, enforceable standards around safety, staffing ratios, and the training required for working with high-needs children.

“It’s not enough to say every child belongs in the classroom,” said Parakin. “We need to ensure the classroom is equipped and the staff are prepared. Otherwise, we’re setting these kids — and these families — up to fail.”

Parakin is now calling on the province to launch an independent review of Alberta’s inclusive education system and implement stronger accountability for how school boards respond to incidents involving vulnerable children.

“Our kids are suffering,” he said.

Weekend rally planned

The Mohanta family is planning a peaceful demonstration outside Calgary City Hall this weekend to raise awareness and demand a third-party investigation.

The rally is scheduled for Sunday, July 20 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at 800 Macleod Trail S.E. The event is open to the public and being organized through a Facebook event page.

“This is not just about our child — it’s about ensuring that no other vulnerable student suffers this kind of trauma again,” said Partha. “We’re inviting all parents, educators and concerned citizens to stand with us.”

The family says other parents have reached out with similar stories and are encouraging those affected to speak up.