12-Year-Old Alleges Assault by Cachar Headmaster, PwD Educator Claims Smear Campaign

A shocking case of alleged corporal punishment has emerged at Chandranathpur ME School in Cachar, where sixth-grader Suman Roy claims he was brutally assaulted by headmaster Mousom Dutta. The 12-year-old’s parents have filed a police complaint and sought justice from Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. However, Dutta, a physically disabled educator and headmaster of the PM SHRI-recognised school, has refuted the allegations, claiming they are part of a smear campaign orchestrated by illegal liquor mafias to tarnish his reputation.

According to the parents, Suman, aged 12 and suffering from kidney-related issues, was beaten on Tuesday for not completing his homework. The headmaster reportedly instructed two other students to hold Suman down and physically assault him. Suman sustained severe injuries to his legs, leaving him unable to walk unaided.

Speaking to our reporter, 12-year-old Suman Roy said, “I couldn’t complete my homework and so after class during the recess, sir called me in the staff room, but I didn’t go. Later he sent two other students to escort me to him. There he asked two other students to hold me and throw me off to the ground. After that, they stepped on me several times. I cried my legs hurting, he said let your legs break I don’t care and asked the other two students to continue stepping on me. After this, my legs were so hurting that I still can’t walk properly without sticks”.

Suman’s mother, Moni Roy, described the harrowing experience saying, “When I sent my son to the school, he was a healthy kid. Like any other day, he walked 3 kilometres to reach school. But in the evening when all his other classmates were back home, there was no sign of his return. I was shocked and scared. Later when I went to the school, I found him badly injured not even able to walk down the stairs of the school’s verandah. How was he able to walk 3 km back home? He was so badly beaten by the headmaster using two students who were forced to act as per his command”.

Activist Ruby Chakraborty and local residents have demanded the immediate suspension and transfer of Mousom Dutta, alleging that he uses political connections to evade accountability. “Despite multiple complaints to the Inspector of Schools, the DC, and the SP of Cachar, no action has been taken,” said Chakraborty.

The incident has drawn outrage, with locals accusing the administration of neglecting the community’s concerns. The parents and residents are now urging higher authorities, including the District Magistrate and the Education Department, to intervene.

On the other hand, Mousom Dutta, the headmaster of the school for 20 years, said that the accusation of him beating a student is false. He explained that his school is in an area where illegal activities like gambling and selling illegal liquor are common. He often speaks out against these activities. He alleged that the student involved comes from a family that illegally sells liquor, and during the recent Kali Puja, he raised concerns about this after being informed by locals.

According to Dutta, one day after school, the student’s(Suman Roy) guardian came to the school with false accusations and started hitting him instead. Luckily, some locals intervened. When the guardian and others supporting the assault noticed there were CCTV cameras, they ran away. Mousom Dutta went to the police to report the incident, but the police suggested a compromise. However, the other teachers refused, saying that such an attack on the headmaster should not be ignored.

Dutta shared that he brings children from local stone quarries where their parents send them to work. He keeps them away from illegal activities and teaches them to solve problems with words, not violence. He also mentioned that his students are not easily influenced by local criminal groups, which angers these groups. His school’s CCTV footage proves he did not beat the student and that he was the one attacked. He showed this evidence to the police.

According to him, since they cannot harm him directly anymore, these groups are now trying to damage his reputation by spreading false allegations in the media. He plans to hold a press conference on Monday to clarify the situation. He added, “I didn’t want to take this so far because it concerns the student’s future. I don’t want his future to be harmed because of his parents.”

Our correspondent from the Borkhola reports, that the school is surrounded by illegal liquor shops, and Dutta often protests against them, which has raised awareness among locals. This has upset the criminal groups because their illegal businesses are losing customers. Although there have been false allegations against him in the past, they have always been proven wrong. However, this is the first time he has been physically attacked.

His school has received the PM SHRI title, which is a significant achievement for a state school, especially in a remote area like Chandranathpur. Being a PM SHRI school means it has been recognised for providing high-quality education, a strong infrastructure, and sustainable practices.

Dutta is also physically disabled. Before becoming a teacher, he worked as a journalist for publications like Sonar Cachar and Samayik Prasanga, among others. His efforts to fight illegal activities have made a positive impact, but they have also made him a target for those who want to continue their wrongdoings.