Karnataka: 4 schoolboys booked for harassing teacher in Davanagere

DAVANAGERE: The district education department in Davanagere has filed a police complaint against four Class X students who allegedly manhandled their Hindi teacher on Monday.
The abuse came to light after two other classmates posted a video of the harassment on social media.
The 59-year-old teacher who is close to retirement initially did not complain against the boys to the school principal, fearing that any action taken against them would become a blot on their future.
All six --- the boys who manhandled the teacher and the two who recoded the video --- are minors. It is unclear what action they may face as the case is now under investigation.
On social media, the video showed the boys of the Government Boys High School putting an empty dustbin on teacher Prakash B's head, pulling his clothes and harassing him inside the classroom. The school is in Nallur village in Channagiri taluk.
When the video went viral on Friday and social media users started criticising the behaviour of the students, the school administration started an investigation.
The officials from the district education department visited the school and filed a case against the four students who had manhandled the teacher. Channagiri MLA Madal Veerupakshappa also went to the school and demanded action against the boys.
G M Shivakumar, the vice-principal, told TOI that Prakash was harassed in the classroom on Monday but it came to light on Friday when the video was circulated.
The teacher, who has some health problems, was shaken by the behaviour, Shivakumar said. "We have taken a written complaint from the teacher and based on this complaint, we have filed a case against four students who harassed and humiliated the teacher," he added.
Deepak B, a son of the Hindi teacher, said: "My father is very disturbed by this incident and is not in a position to speak to anyone. Authorities should ensure such incidents are not repeated."
G R Tippeshappa, the deputy director of public instruction in Davanagere, said: "We visited the school and had a meeting with the parents of the six students, SDMC members and other teachers in the presence of police officers. We have strictly warned the students not to indulge in such activities and respect teachers."
Tippeshappa said the teacher has been offered a transfer to a school of his choice if wants to move out of this school. Madhu, the inspector of Channagiri police station, said: "We have filed a case against four students and we are investigating the case.