Principal nabbed for assaulting student

Barwani, MP, Jan 25 (UNI) The lady principal of a local Christian missionary school was arrested today for severely beating up a girl student of the fifth standard, the police said.

Sonam Tomar, who was accused of stealing the notebooks and textbooks of her classmates, was targeted by Sister Suman yesterday.

When Sonam reached school today along with her mother, she was not allowed to enter and a message -- passed on by the guards -- said that the girl had been rusticated.

The student's relatives complained to District Collector Arun Tiwari who ordered a magisterial inquiry, directed the district education officer to file a probe report and also told the police to take action. Sonam, who sustained injury at 15 points on her body, was admitted to the district hospital.

The incident assumed political hues when members of the Vishva Hindu Parishad, Bajrang Dal and other pro-Hindu organisations gheraoed the school and staged a demonstration. The demonstrators also blocked the Khandwa-Vadodara highway.

Superintendent of Police Dinesh Chandra Sharma confirmed the arrest.

''Sonam is a habitual thief and has stolen about 40 notebooks and textbooks. Her family was summoned and warned on three occasions.

However, I regret my action and have sought the affected family's forgiveness,'' Suman told UNI