Residents from Kaniyamoor and its surrounding villages, on Friday, returned the articles stolen during the massive violence that broke out in the premises of a private school at Kaniyamoor near Chinna Salem in the district on July 17 following the death of a class XII girl student. The move came after the revenue authorities on July 20 made a public announcement to return to the school all the articles that were stolen during the violence.
Police sources said the locals returned articles such as desks and benches, water purifiers, kitchen appliances, and LPG cylinders and placed them on the premises of a temple in the neighbourhood since Thursday night. Police said a resident Satyaraj also returned 14 pairs of gold earrings that he had come across in the premises of the private school to the Chinna Salem police. After the public announcement, the residents restored the articles belonging to the school fearing action from the police. The Tamil Nadu State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (TNCPCR) on Thursday said that the hostel of the private school at Kaniyamoor near Chinnasalem where a Class XII girl student was found dead on July 13 had been running without the mandatory permission from the government.Talking to reporters here, chairperson of the Commission Saraswathy Rangasamy said the school had been running the hostel on its premises violating the basic criteria that must be followed for grant of registration of license.
Though the District Administration had directed all institutions equipped with hostel facilities to apply for licenses, the school had not followed the norms. “This was found during our visit,” she said, adding that the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) will inspect the school on July 27.
Earlier, Ms. Rangasamy, accompanied by members of the commission, held discussions with officials of the Education Department. Sources said the details of enquiries conducted in the case were shared with the team. “During our visit, we found that they (school management) had been running the hostel without obtaining any permission, which is a violation. Three months ago, the district collector had given an advertisement in newspapers that those running hostels, not just for children but also for women, should obtain a valid license. However, this school hasn’t taken any measures to apply for it and it is a punishable offence,” she noted.The officials who accompanied Rangasamy said that they should have registered as per the Tamil Nadu Hostels and Homes for Women and Children (Regulation) Act, and they will recommend the police officials for an alteration in the FIR filed in connection with this case with the latest finding.“The management had accommodated 24 girls in this unregistered hostel. Many in the state are running a hostel without obtaining a valid license and this should be a warning for them. Anyone running a hostel in their schools or privately for children and other women should register under the hostel registration act or else it will be punishable by upto three years in prison,” she stated.After the public announcement, the residents restored the articles belonging to the school fearing action from the police.
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