The director and principal of a school for blind in Andhra Pradesh were Monday arrested for beating up their students.
The arrests were made after parents of the children staged a protest and attacked the Greenfield residential school for blind at Thimmapuram near Kakinada in East Godavari district and the district collector ordered a probe into the incident, which came to light after four days.
Video clips of Director K.V. Rao and Principal Srinivasulu caning the blind children were released to the media Monday, leading to an outrage. The director himself is blind and he was seen mercilessly caning the children with the help of Srinivasulu, who was holding the students.
The clips showed children pleading to spare them but the duo showed no mercy.
Rao and Srinivasulu were arrested after angry parents attacked the school, and also manhandled the principal. Police intervened to bring the situation under control.
Rao admitted that they beat up three students for making noise. He even defended the action by saying punishment is necessary for those making noise.
District Collector Neetu Prasad ordered probe by District Education Officer (DEO) Srinivas Reddy. The official along with police reached the school and spoke to the children, who were sent to the Kakinada government hospital for medical examination.
