Hostellers claim thrashing by school founder's son
Oken assures action, if complaint lodged
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 13 2012: Alleged thrashing by the owner's son of North Point Higher Secondary School, Khabam Lamkhai has led to 13 hostellers escaping from the school campus late last night.

When the incident was brought to the notice of Education Minister M Okendro, he asserted that action would be initiated against the accused person in case a formal complaint is received.

The incident was disclosed to newspersons at the DM College campus head office of All Manipur Students' union by 13 of the hostellers who bore the brunt and had left the hostel.

According to the victims, at around 11 pm yesterday the hostel warden namely K Nedy called out 18 of the hostellers, who were studying after dinner.

the warden questioning who scratched the car of the school founder G Sanatombi's son identified as Bullu, insisted that the hostellers should be ready to face any befitting punishment when told that they hostellers had no idea regarding the damage caused to the car.

Students showing the bruishes where they were caned

Even as the query was on Bullu asked the hostellers to come to the basketball court where they were made to prostrate and started to cane them with a substantially heavy stick, narrated the students who also claimed of have smelled alcohol odour from Bullu.

They further maintained that the school founder Sanatombi did not intervene even though she was at the nearby girls' hostel.

With Bullu threatening to shoot them in case name of the culprit is not revealed, 13 of them due to fear scampered out of the hostel complex at around 1.30 am today, maintained the hostellers.

On the otherhand, guardians of the students terming the school authorities' response to the incident as not positive enough when the matter was apprised this morning also claimed that police suggested negotiated settlement of the issue on being approached.

The guardians also demanded that North Point school authorities ensure that the students do not suffer academically by arranging their study at some other CBSE-recognised institution(s) .

Reacting on the incident, AMSU vice president Md Abdul Haque stated that the matter would be discussed with the school authorities tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Education Minister M Okendro on being contacted by the Sangai Express on the matter described the incident as a regretful one and affirmed that if a formal complaint is received suitable measures would be undertaken.