Kondhali teacher stopped on road, beaten and threatened with death; accused absconding

Katol: A teacher was allegedly stopped on the road and beaten in Kondhali in Nagpur district. The assault is alleged to have been carried out out of resentment over his intervention in a matter involving a complaint by school students. The teacher has also alleged that he was subjected to obscene and caste-based abuse and threatened with death. The incident has caused unease among teachers and across the area.

According to information from the police, the victim, Shailesh Chavan, is 44 and lives in Kondhali. He works as a teacher at a well-known school. A matter had arisen from a complaint by school students. Purushottam Hagawane had come to the school in connection with that matter. Parents and fellow teachers then stepped in and persuaded the parents concerned, and the matter was settled.

Despite this, it is alleged that, nursing resentment over that intervention, the accused, Purushottam Hagawane, arrived in a four-wheeler on November 2 and stopped Chavan on the road. The accused is said to be 54 years old and is also a resident of Kondhali.

The complaint states that the accused said, "What need was there for you to get involved in the school matter?" He then allegedly hurled obscene abuse and punched the teacher on the cheek. According to the complaint, he also threatened to kill him.

In protest against the incident, local residents went to the police station on November 3 and submitted a memorandum. Citing the allegations of caste-based abuse and assault, the memorandum demands appropriate legal action against the accused.

Kondhali police have registered a case. According to the police, the accused is absconding. Kondhali police are conducting further investigation.

As the school dispute has spilled onto the road, the question of teachers' safety is once again at the centre of discussion.