A teacher and the principal of a government run residential school in Karnataka’s Kolar have been arrested on Sunday after Dalit students were allegedly forced to clean a septic tanks.
The duo have been identified as Morarji Desai Residential School principal Bharathamma, and arts and crafts teacher Muniyappa, Indian Express reported. Three other employees of the school named in the FIR are absconding.
The arrest comes after at least four students were allegedly made to step into the septic tank and clean it with their hands as a ‘punishment.’
The video sparked outrage, reportedly prompting Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to intervene. The video surfaced almost 15 days after the incident reportedly took place.
A police officer said to the newspaper that the video was circulated by Muniyappa and guest teacher Maresh. “The students were not provided food according to the menu chart and another guest teacher Abhishek reportedly assaulted the students. It has also been discovered that cleaning staff Kalavathi had deployed students to clean the septic tank and when Bharathamma came to know about it, she had warned her but did not initiate any action,” he added.
Morarji Desai Residential Schools in Karnataka are run by the minority welfare department for students from Classes 6 to 10.
