AP principal brands kids with burning log

The 12 students aged between 7 and 8 were punished for being very naughty

P Pavan

     

Posted On Wednesday, August 11, 2010 at 04:23:37 AM

In what can only be described as a barbaric incident, the principal of a government primary school in Andhra Pradesh branded about 12 kids aged seven and eight with a burning log, for making noise on Monday. The incident took place in Jamallapalli Primary School in Mahbubabad mandal block of Warangal district on Monday afternoon. However, the incident came to light on Tuesday morning when the parents of the wounded children staged protests at the school.  The children show the burns on their limbs allegedly inflicted by (right) principal V Sruti Keerthi Angry with the noisy children, headmistress V Sruti Keerthi allegedly pulled a burning log from a wood fire on which the midday meal was being prepared, and branded them with it.  Three teachers tried to calm Keerthi in vain. Two girls and about 11 boys suffered injuries on their legs or thighs.  Keerthi abstained from duties on Tuesday anticipating parents’ anger. District Educational Officer (DEO) Lakshma Reddy issued orders placing her under suspension and ordered a probe into the incident. Mahbubabad Deputy Superintendent of police Ram Prasad said there was no complaint from the parents of aggrieved students till Tuesday afternoon. “We took it up suo motu and sent our men for investigation”, he said. The incident moved teachers’ organisations like the Andhra Pradesh Teachers’ Union, which not only condemned the incident but also proposed sensitisation of teachers. There were rumours that Keerthi was trying to pacify the poor parents of the injured kids. It is said that she offered them compensation to meet the medical expenses on condition that no police complaint should be lodged.  However, the Mahbubabad police have decided to register a case based on the findings of the spot enquiry by junior officers.