Ongoing Protests in Dhanbad Following Allegations of Misconduct Against Female Students; Investigation in Progress
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Dhanbad (Jharkhand), Jan 13 (NationPress) A significant uproar has emerged in Jharkhand's Dhanbad concerning an alleged incident at Carmel School, Digwadih, where Class 10 female students were reportedly instructed to remove their shirts and were sent home wearing only blazers during the school's 'Pen Day' festivities.
This situation has triggered protests and calls for stringent action against the school's Principal, with demonstrations taking place for the third consecutive day.
Separate teams from the district administration, the Jharkhand Legal Services Authority (JHALSA), and the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) arrived at the school on Monday to assess the situation.
These teams collected statements from the school Principal, teachers, and parents of the affected students. Conflicting testimonies from both sides have complicated the investigation.
CCTV footage from the school is currently being reviewed to clarify the facts. The Principal's office was sealed on Sunday as per the directives from the investigation team to prevent any possible tampering with evidence.
Dhanbad Deputy Commissioner Madhavi Mishra instructed a team led by SDM Rajesh Kumar and District Education Officer Nishu Kumari to gather statements from various stakeholders, including teachers, staff, and parents.
Furthermore, a team organized by Dhanbad Principal District and Sessions Judge Virendra Kumar Tiwari, under JHALSA, conducted an investigation on the school premises for the second consecutive day.
The JHALSA Secretary stated that the investigation remains ongoing, and no official conclusions can be made until it is complete.
The controversy began on January 9 during a 'Pen Day' celebration when students in the 10th grade signed each other's shirts with pens. According to the students, the Principal deemed the activity as indiscipline and reacted by instructing them to remove their shirts, sending them home only in their blazers.
Students claimed they pleaded for leniency, but the Principal refused to reconsider. However, the Principal has denied these allegations, labeling them as baseless in her comments to the media.
The incident gained significant attention after it went viral on social media. Local MLA Ragini Singh, accompanied by parents, visited the Deputy Commissioner's office to demand action against the school.
Dhanbad MP Dhullu Mahato also condemned the incident, describing it as unfortunate and urged the administration to take prompt action.
Protests escalated on Monday, with hundreds of students demonstrating outside the school under the banner of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). The protesters demanded accountability from the Principal and the revocation of the school's recognition.
