Panic gripped the staff of Government High School, Maloya, when a mob of rioters, armed with sticks and bricks, attempted to hit teachers and sabotage school property here today.
According to a complaint submitted by school Principal Darshanjit Kaur to the police, some people violently entered the school premises at 2.30 pm and manhandled teachers. As the mob went on the rampage by breaking flowerpots and doors of classrooms, the teachers lurked in classrooms to protect themselves.
The Principal alleged that the family of the 13-year-old boy, who was apprehended on October 26 by the police under the POCSO Act, beat up the teachers. He had allegedly sexually abused a six-year-old girl in the school washroom.
Based on the complaint, the police have registered a case of rioting under Sections 147, 149, 452, 332, 353 and 427 of the IPC.
According to District Education Officer Anujit Kaur, a few parents in the mob initially accused a schoolteacher of showing a “porn film” to primary students. The mob went berserk and vandalised the school property thereafter.
The Principal first approached senior officials for help at 1.37 pm through a mail when one of the parents from the group objected to the film being shown to children and created a nuisance in the school by bringing people from the neighbourhood. Nearly an hour later, when a few more people thronged the school premises and starting assaulting the staff, police protection was sought by the Principal through another mail.
Talking to media DEO Anujit Kaur said, “We had written to the SSP to provide security to the teachers. The family of the suspect, which was allegedly involved in the attack, also asked the school authorities the reasons for rusticating him and questioned whether there was any prejudice against a community that propelled the school to remove the suspect from the school. The teachers of the morning shift were so petrified after the incident that they remained locked till 4.45 pm.”
She said, “According to instructions from the MHRD, children should be made aware of good touch and bad touch. For this, an animated film called ‘Komal’ was shown to the children to sensitise them to the issue.”
The Principal said, “Around 50 people entered the school and created disorder. A brick was thrown at a peon. However, she had a close shave. A pregnant teacher fainted.”
Eyewitness account
“Around 11.30 am, a few people reached the school and blamed a teacher for misbehaving with a girl, a cousin of the suspect. The Principal informed the police and the allegations against the teacher were probed by counsellors and the police. The group was sent back when nothing was found during the inquiry. After a few hours, the group returned with a large number of people with sticks and started attacking the staff. They started shouting, ‘leave our child (suspect). Why are you doing this to our community? they kept asking.”
Teachers feel threatened, seek security
Teachers of the school protested after the incident and demanded security. Officials of the District Education Office assured them that the security measures in the school would be tightened. The teachers demanded a three-day holiday in the wake of the incident and transfer of teachers who were attacked. The DEO has written to the SSP to provide security to the teachers in the school. “The security of teachers is at stake. Students with a criminal mindset cannot be dealt with in class. The Education Department should take necessary steps to maintain the dignity of teachers. Incidents like these show that there is no respect for teachers among society,” said Savinder Singh, president of the Joint Action Committee. DSE Rubinderjit Singh Brar did not respond despite repeated attempts.
Teacher accused of showing porn film
According to District Education Officer Anujit Kaur, a few parents in the mob initially accused a schoolteacher of showing a porn film to primary students. The mob went berserk and vandalised the school property thereafter. She added, “According to instructions from the MHRD, children should be made aware of good touch and bad touch. For this, an animated film called ‘Komal’ was shown to the children to sensitise them to the issue.”
