Father Arrested in Trichy for Assaulting School Headmaster Over Son's Hairstyle Dispute
A 45-year-old man was arrested in Trichy on Tuesday for allegedly abusing and physically assaulting his son's school headmaster. The incident stemmed from a dispute over the boy's hairstyle, which the headmaster had asked him to change to comply with the school's discipline code.
Background of the School Discipline Incident
The boy is a Class VIII student at a government-aided higher secondary school located near Somarasampettai in Trichy. His father, identified as K Raja, works as a painter by profession. According to sources, the student recently adopted a 'Pullingo' hairstyle, which his teachers considered a clear violation of the school's established discipline standards.
The teachers reported the matter to the headmaster, S. Charles, who then reprimanded the boy for his hairstyle on Tuesday morning. The student argued with the headmaster before leaving the school premises and returning home.
Escalation and Physical Altercation
Around 11 AM, the boy returned to the school accompanied by his father, Raja. They directly confronted Headmaster Charles in his office. Raja allegedly barged into the headmaster's room, verbally abused him, and questioned his authority to dictate his son's haircut choices.
The situation quickly escalated when Raja allegedly slapped Headmaster Charles and threatened him with serious consequences. Other staff members intervened, leading to a larger altercation within the school premises. Eventually, Raja left the school with his son.
Legal Action and Arrest Under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita
Following the incident, Headmaster Charles filed a formal complaint at the Somarasampettai police station in the afternoon. Based on this complaint, police arrested Raja and booked him under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The charges include:
- Section 296(b) for abuse
- Section 115 Clause 2 for voluntarily causing hurt
- Section 329 Clause 3 for criminal trespass
- Section 132 for assaulting a public servant
- Section 351 Clause 2 for criminal intimidation
Raja was produced before a magistrate and subsequently released on bail. The investigation into the matter remains ongoing as authorities continue to gather evidence and statements from all parties involved.
This incident highlights the tensions that can arise between parental authority and school discipline policies, particularly regarding personal appearance standards for students. The use of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections indicates the seriousness with which authorities are treating the assault on an educational institution staff member.
