Imphal, December 29 2008: Out of 17 students of Kanan Devi Memorial School, Pangei who were involved in beating up a teacher and a bus driver of the school on December 22, the Joint Task Force (JTF), Human Resource Cell of the proscribed KYKL and UNLF today chastised 15 of them and flogged them ten times on their buttocks.

The teacher, Nameirakpam Bobichandra Singh of Khurai Tinsid Road and the bus driver Ibung of Tankham were reportedly beaten up by the students on December 22.Ibung has been hospitalised.

The accused 17 students have been identified as Ph Lokendro Singh of Wangkhei, Jollyson Meisnam of Keishamthong, RK Bungsana of Keishamthong, Gregory Thokchom of Sagolband, Chandra Singh of Singda, Bikram of Wangkhei, Samson of Pishumthong, Sadananda of Moirang, S Okenjit of Lamphel, A Rohit of Uripok, L Rajesh of Lamphel, Shafi of Kshetrigao, Ksh Seitaljit of Lamphel, Cherom Yumnam of Yumnam Leikai, T Ramesh Meetei of Porompat, Nitin of Thangmeiband and Lenin of Khurai.

With the exception of Jollyson and Samson who did not turn up, JTF commander Lanjenba paraded the remaining accused 15 students in front of media persons somewhere in Thoubal district today before being handed over to their respective family members after giving necessary advice.

Setting January 2 as the deadline, the JTF commander has asked Jollyson and Samson to meet the officials of the JTF.

Talking to mediapersons at the occasion, the JTF commander recounted that the incident stems from the afternoon of December 11 while the pre-final examination test for class XII students of Kanan Devi Memorial School which was being conducted from December 8 to 22 was still going on.

On that day, after finishing his test, Ph Lokendro, a class XII Science student, tried to enter the examination hall to hand over his practical note book to one of his friends who was still writing his paper.

When the teacher Nameirakpam Bobichandra, who was the invigilator on duty, stopped the student from entering the examination hall saying that he (the student) can either hand over the note book to him (the teacher) or to his friend personally after the examination is over.

But as the student insisted on handing over the note and tried to force his way, a confrontation ensued between the teacher and the student.

The issue was, however, resolved on the same day after joint meeting at the common room of the teachers.

Inspite of that, the 17 students led by Lokendro on their way back home waylaid the school bus at Khurai Heikrumakhong and searched for the teacher.

When the bus driver tried to dissuade students from raising their hands on their teacher, the students' gang beat up the driver needing him to be hospitalised.

The students' gang had also used unparliamentary language on some of the teachers in the bus who tried to intervene.

Consequent to the reporting of the matter with the Heingang Police Station, the issued was settled once again amicably between the school authority and the parents/guardians of the accused students with the parents/guardians agreeing to contribute Rs 1000 each towards meeting the medical expenses on treatment of the injured bus driver.

But apart from the parents of two accused students, the rest have not yet complied with the agreement, the JTF commander said, while asking the parents concerned to hand over their respective contribution by January 5 definitely.

Stating that JTF would not take such misconduct of the students against their teachers, the commander also appealed to the school authorities to ensure such incident do not recur and report the matter to JTF for taking up necessary corrective measures.

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