TURA, Sep 23: The principal of Loyola School in Williamnagar, Father Melwyn Fernandes, against whom a case was registered by the family of a student who died in an accident inside the school premises, was on Wednesday arrested and subsequently granted bail on various conditions laid down by the court.
“The principal was arrested on Wednesday and sent to judicial custody. They moved for bail in the court which was granted,” informed East Garo Hills Superintendent of Police, Bruno A Sangma, while speaking to The Shillong Times on Thursday.
The Class IX student of Loyola School, Cherian Bimik M Sangma, and his classmates were engaged in removing timber logs from the school playground, reportedly under the direction of the principal, when the tragedy unfolded. Although the 14-year-old was rushed to Williamnagar Civil Hospital, he could not be saved.
Amid the widespread public anger which was triggered by the tragedy, the family of the victim filed a police complaint and the principal was arrested and remanded to judicial custody.
However, the court granted him release under three conditions. “I was granted bail with the conditions that I shall not move out of station without the permission of the court, I shall not be absent from the hearings and when required by the court I must make myself present,” informed Fr Fernandes while speaking to this scribe.
Meanwhile, the students have given the lie to the reports doing rounds on social media which claim that the victim was made to carry timber logs as part of a punishment by the principal.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, hundreds of people attended the funeral service of the 14-year-old as he was laid to rest at his hometown of Rongjeng.
