The principal of La Marts, Mr. Sunirmal Chackraborty has been arrested by the Kolkata police on charges of encouraging his pupil, Rouvanjeet Rawla to commit suicide. Rouvanjeet was a 13 year old who was a student of the eighth standard. He took his own life on the 12^th of February reportedly after being hit by the principal with a cane.

Every form of corporal punishment has been banned by the Supreme Court and many State Governments. People who are violating the rules are being meted out with strict punishment.

Rouvanjeet’s father, Mr. Ajay Rawla had filed a first information report accusing the Principal of the institution and the other teachers of physically abusing his son and driving him to the point of no return. The police conducted investigations for four months and finally the accused have been arrested from their residences and will be produced in court on Monday itself. Their maximum punishment could be imprisonment for life or capital punishment.

After the incident was made known to everyone, the Principal had apologized publicly for his actions. The “National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights” had carried an independent investigation. They found the accused to be guilty and suggested the suspension of the people in question.

The school’s point of view had always been that Chackraborty’s apology was enough redemption for his action whereas the NCPCR had severely criticized the police for delaying the arrest of the people in question.