Violence-Hit Kallakurichi Schools In TN Reopens

The Madras High Court had granted permission for the resumption of physical classes in the school for classes 9 to 12.

Madras High Court (L) The vandalism (R)

Chennai: The Sakthi Matriculation Higher Secondary School and the Sakthi ECR international school at Kallakurichi reopened for physical classes on Monday after remaining closed for 145 days.

The school and its premises had witnessed violent scenes after the death of a Class XII student of the school. A violent mob vandalised the school and torched its buses on July 17 after the death of a girl student on July 13.

The Madras High Court had granted permission for the resumption of physical classes in the school for classes 9 to 12.

A joint inspection committee constituted by the Tamil Nadu government had conducted a detailed inspection on the school and its premises and gave the green signal for its reopening.

Barring the third floor, the district administration had given permission for the school to resume classes on the ground, first and second floors of the block.

Permission has not been granted for block B even though it is ready to accomodate students. Blocks C and D are still unfit for functioning and are under repair.

District collector of Kallakurichi told media persons that security arrangements have been put in place prior to the reopening on Monday.

In September, the administration in Tamil Nadu's Kallakurichi gave permission to the two schools to conduct renovation works, following their vandalisation earlier this year.

District Collector, Sravan Kumar Jatavath was responding to an application submitted by the Latha Educational Society which manages the Sakthi Matriculation Higher Secondary School, and ECR International School.

Earlier, the incidence of violence of torching 30 odd school buses, destroying entire school buildings, and even torching police vehicles and injuring policemen had put the state police in the dock. Top cops were shunted out after the incident and the state DGP visited the area and gave the necessary instructions to the policemen.