Students, guardians protest arrest of headmaster in Tinsukia POCSO Case

OUR CORRESPONDENT

DIGBOI: Tensions ran high in Pengaree Brahmajan in Tinsukia district on Saturday afternoon following the arrest of a well-known headmaster Tanka Newar under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act earlier on Thursday.

The arrest, made following a complaint currently under investigation, sparked an unusual protest led by the very students of the ME School and a section of guardians and school staff close to the police station.

According to witnesses, hundreds of students in school uniforms gathered close to the entrance of the police station, chanting slogans calling for the headmaster’s release. Significantly, the minor students dared addressing the media too spontaneously in the school premises demanding the release of the arrested headmaster Tanka Newar.

Hundreds of students described him as a “kind and disciplined mentor” with a long record of service to the institution.

An eye witness who was among the cooks said that she saw the victim student in the headmaster’s chamber complaining of stomach ache while the school was just commencing in the morning.

“The headmaster known for personally taking care of students’ health status in the school on several occasion had treated the ailing students in a pharmacy nearby,” added the female staff of the kitchen on condition of anonymity. “He has always treated us like his own children. We cannot believe the allegations,” said one student, speaking on condition of anonymity due to her age.

Others echoed the sentiment, insisting that the headmaster’s decades-long career had been free of controversy until now.

School records show the headmaster has served for over 25 years earning multiple awards for academic leadership and extracurricular achievements.

Parents, guardians, members of the school management committee, neighbouring residents and some staff members have also expressed disbelief over the allegations, pointing to his reputed role in uplifting the school’s performance and discipline standards.

In response to the arrest, the school management earlier in the morning had convened an emergency meeting on the premises to discuss the incident and to assure parents that safety protocol remain a priority.

Officials, guardians and staff reiterated that they would cooperate fully with the investigation while expressing confidence in securing acquittal after proving the headmaster innocent.

Police sources confirmed that the headmaster is being held in custody as per the POCSO Act’s procedural requirements. “The matter is under investigation. We request the public to avoid speculation and allow the legal process to take its course,” a police official stated.

The incident has brought entire area into sharp focus, revealing deep divisions between legal procedure and community sentiment. Meanwhile, based on a case 21/25 u/s 62,68 BNS, 8 under POSCO, the alleged accused was produced before the law court on Saturday afternoon.

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