M A I N   N E W S

Mob burns school after student commits suicide
He was ‘beaten up’ by Principal
Jupinderjit Singh
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, April 16
An agitated mob set on fire a double-storeyed school building in Kot Mangal Singh colony, Shimla Puri, today late afternoon following suicide by a Class XII student. The student had committed suicide after being allegedly beaten by the school Principal. The mob also damaged the furniture and other equipment in the school. Four rooms on the ground floor were completely burnt.

The student, Satnam Singh, had allegedly consumed celphos tablets late last night. He died at CMC hospital today afternoon. His father, Nirmal Singh, has, in a FIR lodged at Shimla Puri police station, alleged that the boy was severely beaten by Sukhpal Singh, Principal of Guru Angad Dev School, Street No 13, in the colony yesterday afternoon.

The FIR stated that the Principal had asked the student to discontinue his alleged affair with a female teacher of the school and return the letters allegedly written by the teacher to him. The boy was upset over the turn of events and decided to end his life.

According to the police, there was not much age difference between the boy and the teacher. She had passed senior secondary examination last year only from the same school and had got employment there.

Sub-Inspector Yogi Raj, SHO of the Shimla Puri police station, said the police had booked school Principal Sukhpal Singh under Section 306 of the IPC for abetting the suicide. The Principal is, however, reported to be absconding.

Mr Yogi Raj said the police had acted on the complaint of the father of the deceased boy and the allegations were subject to verification. The police had to use mild force to disperse the mob which raised slogans against the school Principal.

The mob was allegedly led by some Akali leaders of the area. The police has not registered any case for setting the school building on fire. The police said they would do so after receiving a formal complaint in this regard.

Mr Yogi Raj said the police would be questioning the teacher also regarding the allegations levelled by the boy's family.

The police has not recovered any suicide note so far.

Meanwhile, heart-rending scenes were witnessed at the house of the deceased boy, who lived in the same street where the school was situated. His father Nirmal Singh, a hosiery trader and other family members were inconsolable at the untimely death of the boy.

The deceased had an elder sister and a younger brother. Heavy police force was deployed in the area as tension prevailed there. Tempers were running high as some relatives wanted the funeral to be held in the school building only.