22 students injured in lathicharge

Theni, Tamil Nadu, July 31 (UNI) Twenty two school students, including girls, were injured today when the rapid action force (RAF) police personnel resorted to lathicharge to disperse villagers who resorted to a road blockade at Muththanampatti cross near Aundipatti in the district, demanding appointment of adequate teaching staff for government school.

The RAF from Theni, immediately on their arrival started canning the students, who along with their parents and a large number of villagers of Muththanampatti blocked vehicular traffic on the state highway to press their demand since this morning.

In retaliation, the villagers also resorted to stone throwing on the police. Tension prevailed in the area for some time till the blockade was lifted, following the violent police action.

The injured were rushed to the Theni Government Medical College Hospital for treatment.

Delay in providing treatment to the injured prompted the villagers to hold a demonstration in front of the hospital.

The protest was a sequel to the transfer of the Head Master in-charge of the Government Kallar High School in the village, which had brought down the strength of the teaching staff from four to three.

The school was in the midst of controversies ever since it was upgraded as a High School from a Middle School recently. The inauguration of the High School as well as the new building, constructed at a cost of Rs 8.6 lakh under the Sarva Siksha Abiyan programme, scheduled for July 25 was cancelled reportedly due to the names of opposition party leaders figuring in the invitation for the function.

Cancellation of the function was followed with the transfer of the Head Master (i/c) as he was suspected to have a hand in, including the names of former Aundipatti Union Chairman Logirajan, (AIADMK) and present Member Saraswathy (MDMK).

Interestingly, a fresh invite was prepared to include Aundipatti Union DMK Secretary and Kallar Reclamation Board member Vaigai Sekar, who was left out in the original invitation.

UNI