Student faces wrath of Principal for being a Buddhist

Attending church every day before the classes begin is mandatory for all the students in the English medium Ashapalli High School, at Fulertal in Cachar in Assam. Non-Christian students in this residential school have often to bear physical and mental torture silently for following their own traditional way of worship.

Kalindi Rani Chakma is one such student of this school. She is a Buddhist. Being a Buddhist, she has to suffer. But what happened on April 12 to her, raises question about the very motive of the authorities of the school.

Kalindi Rani Chakma comes from Diglibag village of Tlabung Demagiri in Mizoram. She got admitted in this school at Fulertal in Class VIII. She is now in Class IX and appear for her HSLC Examination in 2002. But a question mark has now been raised about her future academic career.

According to the daily routine, Kalindi Rani was asked by the captain of the Hostel, Ester Suchian, to collect three buckets of water from the ring well in the school compound at around 4 p.m. on 11.4.2000. She compiled with the instruction. Even then, the Captain Suchian reported against her to the Principal of the School, H. Lamare.

H. Lamare called her at 7.45 p.m. next day (12-4-2000) at his residence and caned her, besides scolding her. She begged for mercy. But, the principal continued to beat her. As a result of the 'beating on different parts of her body, there was swelling and pain.

Kalindi Rani was not only shocked but mentally upset. What shocked her most was the abuse of the principal for her being a Buddhist. He asked her "Why don't you believe in Christ"? "What is the use of worshipping Buddha and Kali?

On April 13, she could not attend school due to pain and swelling on her body. On April 14 she was again scolded and beaten by the principal and is too terrified to attend the school.

Kalindi Rani Chakma filed FIR No. 475/2000 W/S 325 IPC against (he principal H. Lamare at the Sadar police station on 16-4-2000.

She also submitted written complaint to the S.P. Cachar on the matter. She was also medically examined at Silchar Civil Hospital and Indian Red Cross Society. Both the reports conclusively proved that she was beaten by the principal.
 

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