Post News Network
Atabira, August 1: Police Saturday arrested the headmaster (HM) in-charge of Barahmunda Primary School under Kadobahal panchayat here in Bargarh district for allegedly branding a Class I student with a hot knife. The accused was identified as Karamchand Jhankar (30).
The headmaster July 30 had branded the left elbow of Sapneswar Podh (7), with a hot knife. He suffered deep injury in his hand. The teacher even threatened that he would be rusticated from the school if he disclosed the matter to anybody.
The scared student did not disclose the matter to his parents who asked him several times about the injury. However, the matter came to fore after his father repeatedly enquired about it. His father then took up the matter with local sarpanch Ganesh Singh who contacted school management committee (SMC) members on the issue. Sarpanch, parents of the student, SMC members as well as a member of a local self-help group went to the school Saturday morning to discuss the issue.
However, the accused headmaster shouted at the guardians and others when they raked up the matter on the school premises.
As tension prevailed in the school following the incident, classroom activities of Class I to V were suspended.
Later, the student’s father Rushaba Podh lodged a written complaint at local police out-post. On the basis of the complaint, out-post officer B Putta arrested the headmaster Jhankar under sections 427, 324 and 506 of IPC.
Following his arrest, police produced him in a court. A case has been registered in this regard. Sources said there were complaints against the teacher who had been torturing innocent children time and again. The parents and guardians of the students are so frightened that they are now reluctant to send their wards to the school, sources added.
When contacted, block education officer Upendra Bilas said cluster resources centre coordinator (CRCC) has been asked to visit the school and submit a report about the matter.