Student Accuses Principal of Thrashing Her

VISAKHAPATNAM: It has been barely three days since the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights brought out guidelines to eliminate corporal punishment in schools but cases of violations are again out. A school principal reportedly thrashed and injured a fourth class student for speaking to her friends in Telugu at the English medium school.According to the police, MSN Murthy, principal of MSM Public School in Muralinagar, beat up Singuri Pavani with a stick for speaking in her mother-tongue on Tuesday. When Pavani returned home with injuries on her hands, her father S Polinaidu, a mason and resident of Burmacamp area in the city, asked her the reason for them. The girl was allegedly warned by principal not to tell anyone and she hesitated. But after some cajoling, she told her father on Wednesday that Murthy had beaten her up. The irate parents Polinaidu and Sujata went to the school and had a heated argument with Murthy. However, Murthy denied beating the girl and told the parents that the girl was lying to them.On Thursday, Polinaidu lodged a complaint with Kancharapalem police. The police registered the complaint and took Murthy into custody. They said that Murthy is continuing his denial of allegation. Meanwhile, the girl was admitted at King George Hospital. Speaking to mediapersons later, Pavani said that Murthy had taken her to his office chambers and beat her there for speaking to her friends in Telugu. She said that she did not inform her parents the same day as she was warned by the principal.  According to NCPCR guidelines, Corporal Punishment Monitoring Cells should be set up in schools.