Shahnawaz held for assault on college principal

Mangaluru: Mangaluru city police on Monday arrested Shahnawaz, student of Milagres College, on charges of assaulting college Principal Rev Fr Michael L Santumayar on October 20. Confirming this development, deputy commissioner of police (law and order) K M Shantharaju said police secured the accused, a resident of Attavar, near Pumpwell (Mahavir) Circle. “The accused has been secured and produced before the jurisdictional judge,” Shantharaju noted.
A case under sections 324 (Voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means) and 504 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) was registered in Mangaluru North PS in this connection.The accused allegedly assaulted the principal as the latter did not allow him to appear for the semester examination on grounds of attendance shortage.
Earlier in the day, several organisations had protested demanding the arrest of the student. Student leaders also pitched in with support for principal Fr Michael Santumayar.
MLC Ganesh Karnik decried the act saying that teachers always take corrective steps, which may seem unpleasant at times. “It is unbecoming of the student,” he added. Students Islamic Organisation of India District president Rafeeq Bidar also condemned the incident and demanded stringent action against the student so that such incidents do not recur in the district.
After a brief protest by members of Milagres Students Council and Milagres Parent Teachers Association, together with other organisations like CITU, ABVP, NSUI, Indian Catholic Youth Movement (ICYM), Konkani Prachar Sanchalan, International Federation of Karnataka Christian Association, leaders from Ryota Sangha, DYFI, met the deputy commissioner and submitted a memorandum demanding action against the accused and also protection to teachers.
On Thursday, Shahanawaz assaulted the principal and threatened him with murder if he was not allowed to appear for the examination. The college principal, who is also a student of Konkani MA course at Mangalore University Evening College, was rushed to a private hospital after the incident.
Vicar General, Msgr Denis Moras Prabhu, Rev. Fr. Gerald D’Souza, Secretary of Catholic Board of Education, Fr. Valerian D’Souza, Parish Priest of Correspondence, Fr. William Menezes, PRO, Mangalore Diocese, MLC Ivan D’Souza, Gilbert D’Souza, President, Rachana, RC Rodrigues, President, Catholic Association of South Kanara, Fr Melwin Mendonca, Principal, St. Aloysius P.U. College, Marcel Monteiro, Member, Karnataka State Minorities Commission also expressed shock over the incident.
In a communique, they stated Fr. Santumayar has been in the educational field for more than a decade and the Catholic community is pained by the incident.