Miss Alone
Prime VIP
Police ordered the arrest of the Muzzaffarpur Kendriya Vidyalaya (KV) principal, Rajeev Ranjan, on Thursday for the attack on a Dalit student by his classmates, a video of which recently went viral on social media.
Based on an inquiry by investigating officer Babban Baitha, Muzzaffarpur Police found Ranjan guilty of trying to suppress the matter, even tampering with the evidence. City superintendent of police, Anand Kumar, ordered Ranjan’s arrest under the SC/ST (prevention of atrocities) act.
Ranjan was suspended from his position by the KV Sangathan (KVS) on October 19 for inept handling of the victim’s complaint. Also, 22 of the 120 teachers had been transferred.
However, the action sparked a massive student protest, with children boycotting their classes. Students contended that the transfer will affect their performance in the upcoming half-yearly examination as it would take time to adjust to new teachers. They also alleged that the principal is being made a scape goat in the matter despite him taking prompt action.
Ranjan had constituted a five-member disciplinary action committee, which handed out a 10-day suspension to two of the accused.
Among the group of student perpetrators are two siblings, one of who is the victim’s classmates, who were sentenced to a correction home for 14 days on October 17 by the Juvenile Justice Board.
Four other students, who were also accused, are likely to be produced before the Juvenile Justice Board too.
The 16-year-old victim’s maternal grandfather had lodged a complaint with the SC/ST police station in Muzzaffarpur on October 16, based on which the accused were slapped with charges under the information technology act for posting the video online.
The video shows a group of boys thrashing the teenager. The student, in an open letter, claimed he was targeted because of his good grades. While the victim claimed the assault took place in September, the FIR has listed the date as August 25.
Meanwhile, KVS has set up a three-member inquiry committee headed by their assistant commissioner-cum-regional complaint commissioner, Patna region, Mani Lal Mishra.
Also, 15 of the 22 school teachers who were transferred on October 19, were relieved on Thursday evening.
City SP Kumar has also asked the investigating officer to look into the role of some teachers, including members of the disciplinary action committee, in the whole matter.
