Rouvanjit suicide case

 La Mart's principal, four others, arrested

HT Correspondent, Hindustan Times
Kolkata, October 04, 2010

First Published: 08:55 IST(4/10/2010)
Last Updated: 11:31 IST(4/10/2010)

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Sunirmal Chakravarti, the principal of La Martiniere for Boys, was arrested on Monday morning by Kolkata Police on charges of abetting the suicide of his student, Rouvanjit Rawla, a 13-year old class VIII student. Rawla had killed himself on February 12, allegedly after being caned by the principal

175-year old La Martiniere is one of Kolkata’s elitist schools. Caning and any other form of corporal punishment has been banned by the Supreme Court of India and different state governments have become increasingly intolerant towards this form of disciplining of studnts.

Ajay Rawla, Rouvanjit’s father had filed an FIR alleging persecution by the principal and teachers of the school and physical assault that drove his son to suicide.

The four will be produced in court on Monday.

All the accused was arrested from their residences after the police conducted an enquiry for four months and were prima facie convinced of their guilt.

One of the sections that have been on the four was 305 of IPC that deals with abetment to suicide of a minor and carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and even death penalty.

A section of Junenile Justice Act that deals with assault on a minor has also been slapped against them.

After the incident came to light, Chakravarti had apologized for his act in public.

Rawla had even gone to the Assembly and appealed for the early arrest of Chakravarti and his colleagues.

National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), an autonumous body under the Central government, had conducted an enquiry in June that found the school and the teachers guilty and had recommended suspension of the accused.

NCPCR had criticized the delay of the police in arresting the four.

The school’s image has already been sullied after a teacher Sanjay Smart was arrested for extorting a laptop computer from a student. Smart is currently lodged in jail.

School authorities had always maintained that Chakravarti had confessed his guilt and it was sufficient atonement for his act. (hindustan times)