It was a day of high drama at Loyola Matriculation School in Kodambakkam on Thursday after a physical training (P.T.) instructor was allegedly attacked on campus by some persons.
The attack was in retaliation to an incident in the morning, when a class VIII student was reportedly subjected to corporal punishment.
According to the Kodambakkam police, the student had mild fever in the morning when he was beaten up by PT instructor, Bhaskar.
The boy complained of unease in the afternoon, after which the school contacted his mother, who took him home.
Within 30 minutes of this, a group of men rushed into the campus, assaulted Bhaskar and damaged property in the waiting hall of the school correspondent’s room.
Meanwhile, a relative of the student lodged a complaint with the Kodambakkam police stating the PT instructor had assaulted the child.
School authorities denied the claims of corporal punishment and, later in the day, a group of teachers and parents protested demanding the arrest of those who assaulted Bhaskar.
Sources with the Government Royapettah Hospital said Bhaskar was brought in unconscious with severe abrasions. He was later moved to GH, the police said.
“We have CCTV footage of the men roughing up Bhaskar in front of the headmistress’s room,” said a school official.
“The kindergarten classrooms are right next to where the incident happened. We are worried about the safety of our children,” said a parent who took part in the protest.
The Kodambakkam police have registered a case based on a complaint by Bhaskar, and a search is on for his assailants.
The education department will conduct a parallel enquiry into the corporal punishment claims, the police said.
The chief educational officer and director of matriculation schools visited the school on Thursday evening and conducted an enquiry.