St Joseph’s Higher Secondary School, a missionary school in Sugnu in Manipur’s Kakching district, was burnt down on Thursday night. The incident happened a few days after the school suspended six students for indiscipline.
St Joseph’s is the second oldest in Manipur.
“A total of 10 rooms have been destroyed, two of them had important documents, files and equipment,” school Principal Rev Fr Dominic told ANI. Disciplinary action had been initiated against the students but they were allowed to attend classes, he said.
“We have been discussing that the cause of the burning down could be a negotiation with a local student organisation as they did not like the correctional measure we had taken against some students. They wanted the punishment quashed,” he added.
He also alleged that one of the students had put up abusive content about the school on social media.
Speaking about the incident Manipur Minister Letpao Haokip said, “This is an act of extremists. A students organisation is burning down a school. I condemn the act. Whoever is involved in this act will be booked and punished. I will help in the reconstruction of school so that students do not lose an academic year.”
A case has been registered with the police and further investigation is underway.
(With inputs from ANI)
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