Edu Dept team ‘manhandled’ by private school staff, 2 booked

Muktsar, January 20

The management of Golden Era Millennium School at Mandi Killianwali, Lambi, today allegedly thrashed a six-member team sent by the District Education Officer (DEO) to check if the institute was holding classes above Grade VIII without affiliation.

Team head Kanwalpreet Kaur, principal, Government Senior Secondary Smart School, Mandi Killianwali, said, “The DEO had got some complaints that a private school at Mandi Killianwali was holding classes without affiliation.”

“A team under my supervision went to the institute and found that the school management was teaching students of Class IX, X, XI and XII. When our team started making videos, school manager Jaskaran Singh and principal Deepti Sharma thrashed us and even broke a cellphone,” she said.

Later, the team members lodged a complaint with the Lambi police.

Lakhvir Singh, chief, Democratic Teachers’ Front (DTF), Muktsar, said, “This school is running illegally. It should be closed immediately and legal action be initiated against its management. Alternative arrangements should be made for the students enrolled in higher classes.”

Rajeev Chhabra, DEO, Muktsar, said, “The school was found teaching students above Class VIII illegally. A complaint has been filed as the school management obstructed public servants from discharging their duties and misbehaved with them.”

The police have registered an FIR against the school manager and principal under Sections 353, 332, 186, 506 and 427 of the IPC.