Assault finger at school

Gangtok, June 14: A Canadian woman volunteer working in a private school in Sikkim today lodged a complaint with police of Gangtok alleging that the institution’s director and a teacher often beat up the students. Sara Antwis, 40, said she has recorded video clips of the teacher, Samir Tamang, chasing schoolchildren with a cane and of a student crying and showing his bruises. Corporal punishment is banned in schools. “I was shocked to see the children are subjected to extreme physical punishment. They are beaten up regularly by the head of the school and a teacher. In two incidents, four students were beaten up,” said Antwis, who taught in Denjong Padma Choling Academy, a CBSE secondary school. She said she filed the complaint with Gangtok police after the local Tikjuk police station in Pelling took no action. Antwis has named school director Sonam Yongda, and the teacher Samir in her complaint. Yongda said: “It is a lie to malign my image.” “I lodged a police complaint on June 7. Three of the four children were taken for medical tests. I have a copy of the report that indicates bruises and welts. The (Tikjuk) police ignored my report,” Antwis said, adding that she has also written to the state child welfare commission.