Kundapur: Headmaster suspended after cook's suicide bid, parents protest
Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur
Kundapur, Oct 31: A quarrel between the headmaster of Chowkalamakki government lower primary school and the main cook allegedly led to a suicide bid by the cook and resulted in the suspension of the headmaster. Condemning the suspension, parents along with members of School Development and Monitoring Committee (SDMC) and students on Wednesday October 30 staged a protest in front of the school.
It is learnt that argument arose between school headmaster Stephen B M and Sarojamma, the main cook under Akshara Dasoha. Following the fight, Sarojamma allegedly attempted suicide and an FIR was registered in this regard in Shankarnarayana police station. Sarojamma stopped coming to school after the incident.
Based on the complaint, the education department passed temporary suspension order on October 15 against Stephen. Hence, a protest was staged condemning his suspension.
"Stephan B M was a good teacher and has helped several students in this region. He has raised the school to higher standards. It is wrong to suspend a good person like him based on a false complaint. He should be brought back to this school as the headmaster and the complaint against him should be withdrawn," demanded the protestors.
A few among the parents were against the protest. They said students are sent to school for education and not to step into streets and protest. "Politics and personal grudge among the staff members should be kept outside the school premises. Do not make our children suffer," said Gopal Poojary, father of one of the students.
Education officer of Byndoor visited the spot and held discussions with the protestors. "As Sarojamma has filed a criminal complaint against him, Stephan has been temporarily suspended. With regard to this, discussion will be held with the education director and investigation will be done by November 10," he assured.
Zilla panchayat vice-president Mamatha R Shetty, taluk panchayat vice-president Hema R Poojary, Sukumar Shetty from Shri Kshetra Kollur, Seetharam Shetty and others calmed down the protestors.