The Hindu : Police acted under pressure of media reports: Velammal school

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jun 21, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu-Chennai

Police acted under pressure of media reports: Velammal school

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI JUNE 20. Authorities of the Velammal Matriculation Higher Secondary School, mired in the controversy over Ramu Abhinav suicide, today sought to deflect public criticism, claiming that police had acted against Kannappan, Mathematics teacher, solely under pressure exerted by media reports.

However, police officers categorically said the teacher was arrested following definite proof that corporal punishment was handed in the school.

The school chairman, M.V. Muthuramalingam, addressing a press conference here, claimed that Mr. Kannappan was innocent and hastily the teacher was put behind bars by the police. "The suicide note had mentioned a lot of other personal statements also" and they were ignored.

He said the boys who had spoken to the media about corporal punishment were those sent out of the school for misconduct. Unlike other schools, Velammal absorbed students who were very weak in studies and ensured that they "passed with good marks". The school always stressed on taking proper care of students. "We send strict instructions to teachers not to indulge in corporal punishment and those found guilty of even the slightest of allegations are penalised", the chairman said.

Denying the charge of a `dark cell' being operated, he replied that students were separated on the basis of their merit and performance and those needing extra attention were asked to attend the special coaching classes in the evening. Anybody could visit the school premises and inspect it. There was some disquiet at the press conference, when Mr. Muthuramalingam made some personal remarks against the family of the boy.

Also present on the occasion was Vignesh, a standard VII student and his parents. His mother, Latha, said deaf and dumb Vignesh had been operated on the head more than once. She said the school staff were very careful while interacting with him and that she had no complaints against the teachers.

Meanwhile police officials pointed out that the teacher was taken into custody only after proper investigations. "If we had to go by media reports, we should have arrested the authorities too", they said and added it was unfortunate that neither was the school declared closed even for one day nor did authorities express their condolences to the family of Ramu Abhinav. The Deputy Commissioner of Police, Anna Nagar district, Karuna Sagar, said the charge sheet would be filed based on the post-mortem report. "Investigations have been conducted properly in the case", he added.

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