Headmaster, 2 others held for making Dalit students sit separately

SHIMLA:KULLU police have arrested the headmaster and two other staff member of Government High School, Chestha, in connection with caste-based bias during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Pariksha talk on February 17.

This came after the reports of Dalit students being made to sit separately in ‘a place meant for horses’ during PM Narendra Modi’s‘parikshaparcharcha’on February 17 came to light.

Following a probe panel’s finding indicating fault of teh school headmaster and staff, a case was registered last week under relevant sections.

On Monday late evening, the police arrested headmaster Rajan Bhardwaj and other staff members, Ajay Thakur and Dile Ram.

The probe panel headed by local sub-divisional magistrate held the school headmaster, staff and school management committee president guilty of alleged caste discrimination in the school.

The FIR had been filed against Bhardwaj, management committee president, school administration and staff members. The accused have been booked under Section 3 (1) (r) of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes Act. Reports said the school in Kullu’s Chestha had made arrangements for students to watch Modi’s programme at the school management committee president’s home.

A handwritten anonymous complaint was circulated on social media that said a teacher forced students to sit in a place outside the room used for keeping horses. The complainant also alleged ‘caste discrimination’ during mid-day meals.

Kullu deputy commissioner (DC) Yunus Khan took note of the complaint on Sunday and ordered a magisterial inquiry.