Test by fire for TN school children

In a shocking incident, 35 Class V students of a panchayat primary school in Kayalpattinam were made to hold their palms over a burning candle to prove they had not stolen money.

The incident, in which six children received burn injuries and which has traumatised other students, has sent shock waves across the village, about 650 km south of Chennai, near Tiurchendur, Tuticorin district in Tamil Nadu. Tuticorin DSP Mahesh Kumar Agarwal, told The Indian Express that the school headmistress, Vasantha, has been booked. The education department, too, has ordered an inquiry.

On December 1, Usha Parvathi, a teacher, left her bag in the classroom and went out for brief period. When she returned, she found Rs. 200 missing. She complained to the headmistress, who summoned the children for questioning. The children denied that they had taken the money but the headmistress put the children through the ‘‘agni pariksha’’.

‘‘She (the headmistress) sent for some candles and said if we had stolen the money, our hands would burn,’’ a tearful Lingam told a TV channel, holding out his palm to show the burnt part.