La Martiniere principal arrested for student's suicide

The principal of La Martiniere, one of the oldest and the most prestigious institutions in Calcutta, was today arrested in connection with the suicide of Class VIII student Rouvanjit Rowla.

Sunirmal Chakroborty, the school principal who had caned Rouvanjit, was arrested in the morning along with three other teachers by Kolkata Police, media reported.

"I have come to know that the principal of the school has been arrested by officials of the detective department this morning. I can't say anything more than this right now," IANS quoted a senior police official saying.

Ajay Rawla, Rouvanjit's father had filed an FIR against the principal and teachers of the CNI-run school for physical assault which he alleged drove his son to suicide.

National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), an autonomous body under the Central government, had conducted an inquiry in June that found the school and the teachers guilty and had recommended suspension of the accused.

Thirteen-year-old Rouvanjit had committed suicide on February 13 after allegedly being "humiliated and beaten" in school.

Following his death and the widespread criticism, CNI asked all its schools to get rid of corporal punishment which includes caning, slapping and others that are banned by law.

The principal had also apologized for having caned the student but clarified that it had no connection with the boy committing suicide.

Rouvanjit Rawla's case has brought about a huge public outcry, largely because the case occurred in one of India's oldest and most elite schools.

Bongiyo Christiyo Porisheba, an umbrella organisation of 700 Christian missionary schools in Kolkata, earlier came in support of the school and said corporal punishment was needed to maintain discipline among children.