School HM suspended, govt promises support to family
General education department issued a directive to the school management to suspend headmistress Suja S in connection with the electrocution death of Class VIII student Mithun in the school on Thursday.
School manager R Thulasidharan Pillai issued the suspension order. Kollam district assistant education officer, who visited the school, reported serious lapses on the part of school authorities in maintaining the safety and security of the school and its premises.
Meanwhile, massive protests erupted across the state following Mithun's death, with allegations raised against various govt departments in connection with the incident.
BJP workers marched to the office of electricity minister K Krishnankutty in Palakkad. Police used water cannons to disperse the protesters as they tried to break through barricades. Scuffles broke out between demonstrators and the police.
Protests led by Kerala Students Union, Revolutionary Youth Front and Yuva Morcha at the Thevalakkara school also turned tense. The police forcefully removed and arrested the protesters.
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Earlier, general education minister V Sivankutty on Friday said that govt would take stern action against all those responsible for Mithun's death. He said the school management must consider providing financial assistance to the family of Mithun, who was electrocuted to death after he climbed up a cycle shed to retrieve a footwear from the rooftop.
Sivankutty said education department would take the initiative to build a house for Mithun's family and his brother would be exempted from paying fees up to Plus Two.
Govt will provide Rs 3 lakh as emergency aid and more financial assistance will be provided to the family after consulting the CM, he added.
Minister regrets comment
Meanwhile, animal husbandry minister J Chinchurani visited Mithun's family on Friday. She expressed deep regret over her statement blaming the boy, who was electrocuted to death. She said it was a slip of the tongue.
The minister had on Thursday blamed Mithun for his acts and had given a clean chit to the school management and teachers.
She said that the boy climbed onto the sheeted roof, ignoring the warnings of his classmate. He had risked his life just for a slipper, she said. Chinchurani said, "I should have avoided the words but it was a slip of tongue."
KSEB compensation
Meanwhile, KSEB handed over a cheque for Rs 5 lakh to the family of Mithun on Friday.
Kerala water resources minister Roshy Augustine, speaking to the media in Kozhikode, expressed sorrow over Mithun's death.
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