'Drunk' Principal Beats Students For Playing Football in Assam

Guwahati, Jun 13 : Barely a week after a class VI student in Assam’s Azara died after being allegedly caned by his two teachers, guardians of a government-run school in Lakhimpur on Saturday complained that seven students were beaten up by their headmaster who was reportedly drunk.

The incident took place at Gurudev Middle English School on Friday at Bordeori village, about 350 km from Guwahati.

According to school management committee president, Durna Kanta Deori, guardians complained that the students were beaten up by headmaster Kandeswar Miri Baruah for playing football during recess. Baruah was allegedly drunk.

‘‘We have received complaints that the headmaster chased the students and beat them up with a stick.

Seven students, mostly from class VI, were hurt and one of them was admitted to hospital,’’ he said. They, however, did not lodge any police complaint, he said.

Deori added that the seven students were absent on Saturday as their guardians complained that they had fallen ill. He said the school management committee received two complaints against the headmaster from guardians earlier and they informed the district education department about it.

‘‘We received several complaints that the headmaster comes to school in an inebriated state.

We will hold a public meeting on Sunday to decide the action to be taken against the headmaster,’’ Deori said. Baruah, however, was not available for comments.

Buddha Prasad Deori, an assistant teacher of the school, said the headmaster chased the students to their classroom and caned them.