Minor boy’s hands tied, FIR against principal, teacher after Maneka Gandhi’s intervention

NP NEW 24 ONLINE: PUNE:           In a shocking incident, a boy who studied in class two at a private school in Kondhwa, was made to remain in the class with his hands always tied, for allegedly being too ‘mischievous’.

A Karate teacher who was dismissed from the school, had reported the matter to Maneka Gandhi, the Union Minister for Women & Child Development, on February 5. He had sent a photo of the child with his hands tied and also narrated the whole incident. The minister informed Pune police commissioner who ordered inquiry following which the FIR was registered at Kondhwa police station on Monday.

Aniket Satav (28), the Karate teacher, lodged the complaint against principal Pradnya Gokhale and class teacher Habiba of Mansukhbhai Kothari National School, Kondhwa.

According to police, the incident took place on November 1 last year. The Karate teacher had seen the boy with his hands tied during his class. He untied the hands. However, he again saw him with the hands tied. When asked the class teacher, he was told that the principal has ordered to keep the hands of the boy tied.

Satav had taken the photo of the child with his hands tied. He reported the matter to the principal who reportedly told him that the boy was very naughty, hence she has ordered to keep his hands tied. The principal warned Satav and told him not to discuss the matter with anyone. However, when he persisted to keep the hands free, he was fired from job.

Finally, on February 5 this year, Satav sent the photo of the child and details to Maneka Gandhi on email and requested her to intervene in the matter.

Now the principal and the class teacher have been booked by police for offences under the Juvenile Justice Act and the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act.