Political activists try to shave teacher’s head

Action in retaliation to YMCA school forcing haircuts on 55 students; school property also damaged by protesters

Political activists try to shave teacher's head

Action in retaliation to YMCA school forcing haircuts on 55 students; school property also damaged by protesters

Authorities at the YMCA school in Rasta Peth were left shell-shocked when more than 25 activists allegedly belonging to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stormed in and tried to shave a teacher's head on Friday morning. The action was in retaliation to the authorities forcing a haircut on dozens of students during school hours.

The group also allegedly dragged furniture out of the principal's office and, in a threatening gesture, terrorised the staff by hanging a chair from a ceiling fan.

On Friday, MiD DAY had reported that the school had called in a barber and given about 55 students a haircut as punishment for not heeding the warnings issued by the school on several occasions against keeping their hair long. The action on the part of the school had angered many parents. After learning of the incident, the political activists stormed into the school and caught hold of a teacher named Hemant Chavan and tried to tonsure his head, but he managed to get away.

School Principal Helen Korabandi condemned the political activists' actions. She also justified the students' haircut episode, saying the children had been given a warning a week ago.

"The treatment meted out to our staff was completely unacceptable, especially as no parents or students have complained to us. Parents have no problem with the disciplinary action we took," said Korabandi.

But when MiD DAY spoke to some parents, they said they were angry but could not express themselves as they feared their children would be on the receiving end of a backlash from the school. "I am very angry and want to do something but we aren't getting other parents' support and I don't want my son to suffer alone later."