High drama after arrest of SSM School trustee
Following SSM group managing trustee Santhanam’s arrest on Wednesday morning, a message was sent to parents, saying the SSM School would be shut down indefinitely from Thursday.
Published: 26th July 2018 05:52 AM | Last Updated: 26th July 2018 05:52 AM | A+A A-
Parents staging a protest demanding the managing trustee’s release | Express
CHENNAI: Following SSM group managing trustee Santhanam’s arrest on Wednesday morning, a message was sent to parents, saying the SSM School would be shut down indefinitely from Thursday. This led parents concerned to throng the school demanding an explanation.
A group of 500 parents began demanding Santhanam’s release, hoping that it would force the management to relent and ensure their wards’ education wouldn’t be disturbed. Parents displayed charts and placards extending their support to the founder, who had been taken into police custody. “Around 90 per cent of the parents are ready to pay the caution deposit because we trust Santhanam sir,” said Nithya Narasimhan, a parent leading protests, asking for Santhanam’s immediate release.
A group of parents also thronged the Peerkankaranai police station where Santhanam was being held. Police, however, were quick to disperse the gathering. The parents, who had gathered at the school and police station, seemed unfazed by the derogatory comments Santhanam allegedly made against them over the school intercom on Tuesday. He had allegedly asked students to tear the caution deposit form given to them and throw it at their parents. He had even gone to the extent of calling them beggars and porukkis.
“What proof do you have that he said those things,” argued a parent demanding his release.
After the Tambaram Revenue Divisional Officer and officials from the School Education department intervened, the school relented and sent messages that the school would continue to function as usual.
A few teachers and members of the non-teaching staff told Express that the management, knowing very well that the school could not shut down in the middle of the academic year, had intimated parents about the closure just to garner support for Santhanam’s release. “The school will issue a clarification by the evening that the school will function. You wait and watch,” said a staff member.
However, what came as a shock to many parents is the management’s decision to downgrade facilities of the school after revoking the caution deposit increase. Nitya Narasimhan and Srinivas K, two parents who were leading protests, refused to comment.
