Thaindian News

Kolkata, Oct 4 (IANS) The principal of Kolkata’s prestigious La Martiniere for Boys School was arrested Monday in connection with the suicide of Class 8 student Rouvanjit Rowla after he was caned earlier this year, police said.

Sunirmal Chakroborty, the school principal who had caned Rouvanjit, was arrested in the morning from his home by Kolkata Police.

“I have come to know that the principal of the school has been arrested by officials of the detective department this morning. I can’t say anything more than this right now,” a senior police official said.

The 175-year-old school landed itself into a controversy and focus of nationwide debate when Rouvanjit hanged himself Feb 12, days after he was caned by the principal.

Rouvanjit’s father Ajay Rowla later filed a police complaint against the principal and other teachers involved in caning and mental harassment of his son.

The principal had later apologised for caning Rouvanjit and the school authorities had banned corporal punishment.

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) had recommended the dismissal of the principal and vice-principal and to stop the increment of three teachers following Rouvanjit’s suicide.

After the incident triggered a controversy, the West Bengal government announced that it would form an authority where students and their parents can express their grievances about schools and teachers.