Mumbai:
When it comes to venting their fury on oppressive political parties, teachers prefer administering corporal punishment. Teachers of the DAV public school in Nerul thrashed party workers of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) yesterday, when a row over bus safety norms between the two parties heated up.
Acting on a complaint lodged by the principal and teachers of the school, the police have arrested six MNS party workers.
An MNS delegation visited the school to discuss the bus safety issue with its principal. After some strong words were exchanged, the MNS workers poured ink on the principal's face. Following which the teachers lost their cool and struck the workers with their chappals.
Jose Kurian, principal of the school said "The MNS party workers suddenly stormed into my office and started shouting slogans, saying that our school does not have a transport committee to implement the school buses safety norms as per the new guidelines. I tried to convince them that we have a committee in place, but they would not listen, and started vandalising the premises. They even poured black ink on me. So teachers of our school retaliated."
However, MNS workers had their own version of the incident. Kaustubh More, president of Navi Mumbai MNS, said, "We had gone to the school simply to ask them if they would comply with the new guidelines issued by the RTO recently. However, the principal and teachers there started arguing with us and attacked us. As many female teachers were present, we did not respond, and left the premises."
Immediately after the incident, the school lodged a complaint with the NRI police station. Acting on the complaint, cops have arrested six MNS party workers last night.
Inspector Shivaji Gavit said, "An FIR has been registered against six party workers under Sections 354 and 452 of the IPC. We have arrested six MNS party members, after the school lodged a complaint."
All DAV public schools in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai will be kept closed today, in protest of the attack by MNS workers.