Dalit girl case: Students lock school gate, protest transfers

Sanjay Bumbroo

Tribune News Service

Tohra, January 15

In the case of alleged harassment of an SC girl, more than 400 students of Government Senior Secondary School today locked the school gate and did not allow teachers, including the principal, to enter the school premises.

The students were demanding the cancellation of the transfer of all teachers from the school. They said the authorities should have transferred only two teachers who were allegedly involved in the harassment case.

They claimed that their studies were being affected and if the department wanted to shift the entire staff, it should do so from the next session.

The students lifted the dharna after being assured that action would be taken against the staff if found guilty of making casteist remarks against the Dalit girl. The students were also assured that other teachers would be transferred back after the inquiry.

Principal Narinder Kumar said the transferred teachers had been relieved and the school would function normally from Tuesday.

Forest Minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot said there were three groups of teachers behind the ruckus in the school. He said the decision of the administration to transfer the entire staff was taken to resolve the issue without any bias. He said the teachers had been transferred to other schools just 4-5 km away. He said the inquiry was being conducted in a fair manner.

Former minister Harmel Singh Tohra said the Congress government had shifted the entire staff to benefit a few.

Meanwhile, a committee constituted by Akal Takht visited the house of SC girl student Veerpal Kaur and the proceedings of the meeting were recorded. The video would be sent to Akal Takht for taking action in the matter.