School principal held after video goes viral

Inamul Kareem was presented in court; Police requested his judicial remand

CHITRAL: The principal involved in brutally thrashing boy and girl students at a school in Chitral was arrested on Wednesday. Minister for Elementary and Secondary Education Muhammad Atif Khan said the principal would be punished in an exemplary fashion.

A police official told The Express Tribune a video showing the beating went viral on social media and police took action accordingly. Inamul Kareem was arrested and a case was registered against him under Sections 33, 34 and 37, in accordance with the K-P Child Protection Welfare Act 2010. The school was also sealed by the Elementary and Secondary Education department.



The 92-second video showed that Kareem was beating a group schoolgirls and boys who were running and crying for help in a compound. The video went viral on social media and the department took action, ordering the police to arrest the man. He was suspended from his post and taken into custody.

A two-member enquiry committee was formed by the elementary and secondary education director. It is headed by Chitral District Education Officer Hanifullah and Chitral GCMHS principal Kamaluddin.

The committee members will prepare a report in one week and further action will be taken. The police official, meanwhile, claimed the school principal confessed to assaulting the students.



On Wednesday morning, Inamul Kareem was presented before the court of civil judge Darosh where the police requested his physical remand. However, the court did not approve the demand and he was taken to the judicial prison.

Muhammad Atif said the principal was either not human or had a mental disorder.



Published in The Express Tribune, August 4^th, 2016.