Class X Student Battered By Principal
In a class X in Karbi Anglong, one student suffered serious injury and had to be rushed to Guwahati Medical Collage in critical condition yesterday around 9.45 PM after preliminary treatment in Diphu Civil Hospital.
The agitated relatives and family friends of the victim bashed the principal of the school who allegedly has a reputation for awarding physical punishment to the students including grownup girls.
According to eyewitnesses, Sohan Prasad Mahato, Principal of Sunrise Academy, a private residential school located in the Amolapatty area of the town, forced John Engti and Jitumoni Hazurika to kneel for almost one hour for a misdemeanor. Later the principal all of a sudden punched John Engti and beat him with a cane till the boy lost consciousness.
Nobody Helped The Boy
Allegedly the principal whipped John in several class rooms as exemplary punishment. The traumatized students of the school who saw the spine chilling cruelty of the principal failed to utter a single word to rescue John from the clutch of the principal.
John was admitted to Diphu Civil Hospital in a state of coma by his family members. Sohan Prasad Mahato who went to the hospital to check on John had to face the rage of friends and relatives of John Engti. Mahato was beaten black and blue by several youth inside the hospital compound. The police had a tough time in controlling the mob. Mahato was taken into custody of Diphu police. Fearing for more violence, the school hostel was vacated and police were posted around the school.
Legal Action Demanded
The incident was widely condemned by student organizations and members of civil societies who denounce corporal punishment in educational institutions. Chief Executive Member of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council Tuliram Ronghang condemned the incident and has demanded legal action be taken against the erring school principal.
Karbi students, the Youth Council and Karbi Students Association also insisted on immediate legal proceedings against the principal. Classes at the school were suspended by the police and parents were called by the staff of the school. At the time of filing this report, John was said to be stable but not out of danger by his family members. Police remain posted at the school as a precautionary measure.
