43 students flee Jamnagar Sainik School after scuffle

Ahmedabad, Aug 7: Forty-three students, some of them with bruises, fled the campus at Balachadi Sainik School in Jamnagar after alleged ragging incidents and scuffle between two groups within the campus.

Several parents staged a protest in front of the school today after the students left the campus last night as they demanded an explanation from the school authorities over “indiscipline” during the last four days.

“We want an explanation from the authorities and also an apology from the errant seniors who have ragged our son Dhruv”, Bhanubhai Trivedi, told reporters over phone from Jamnagar.

He said his son, a class X student, fled from the campus on August 4 as he was unable to bear the ragging and reached home in Ahmedabad the next day.

“He told us how his seniors in 11th and 12th standard made him do physically tough tasks, humiliated him and beat him with the belt. However, we told him the matter would be taken up with the authorities,” the parent said.

When contacted, school principal Captain B.C.S. Bharti, had another version to the whole episode and said that a tenth standard student beat up a senior and fled.

“It is not a case of ragging. It is a fight between two groups of students. A few days ago a standard X student beat up his senior, and following this 43 students have fled the campus last night. We are trying to identify them. The angry parents have also been explained the real matter”, he said.

Jamnagar police said they were keeping a watch on the situation and so far no complaint had been lodged.