Bengaluru: The Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR) has directed the Ashok Nagar police to take action against the management of Baldwin’s Boys High School, the principal and the physical instructor for “causing physical and mental suffering to children by forcing them to stand outside the gate for coming late” and manhandling and abusing a parent who complained about it.
The KSCPCR has asked the police to present a report on August 27, the next date of hearing. The commission asked the police to initiate criminal proceedings under sections of JJ Act and IPC against physical instructor Manoj for wrongfully restraining and assaulting the complainant, Sandeep B.C., a resident of Koramangala, on July 26, principal Anthony D’Souza and school manager Sheila John Wesley.
The commission instructed the police department to suspend and take disciplinary action against the four police constables who were present inside the principal’s chamber when Sandeep was being assaulted and threatened. The Baldwin’s School management has been asked to submit the CCTV footage of the principal’s chamber as well.
What is the incident?
The father of a first standard student of Baldwin Boys’ High School, Sandeep B.C., on July 27 wrote to Primary and Secondary Education Minister N. Mahesh that he and his wife were manhandled and assaulted by the school staff and abused by the principal for raising concern over student safety at the school gate. Sandeep wrote that he witnessed students aged 4 to 6 weeping outside the school gate as they were not let in for being late. Sandeep requested the school administration to let them in, but in vain. He then dialed 100 for help after which patrolling policemen came in to ensure they were let inside but what followed was most shocking. “I was called inside the principal’s chamber and the staff also telephoned my wife and summoned her. We both were manhandled, abused and assaulted by the staff including the principal,” Sandeep recalled the horror.
