DAVians AGAINST POLTICS: 2011

Gruesome pictures of MNS Vandalism !!!

ARTICLE BY Times Of India !!

MNS activists attack principal, teachers over 'bus safety'

MUMBAI: The condition of school buses across the state has been a cause for concern for a while, but the issue acquired an entirely different twist on Wednesday as a group of political activists attacked a school principal and teachers, ostensibly to ensure the school follows the norms.

Members of the Maharashtra Navnirman Vidyarthi Sena barged into the office of the principal of DAV School, Nerul, blackened his face and roughed up other staff members on Wednesday morning. "We wanted to check if schools were following the school bus safety norms. We had sent notices to all schools in Navi Mumbai two weeks ago," said Santosh Gavas, vice-president of MNVS. He added that MNVS had also sent a letter to RTO officials a month ago demanding immediate implementation of the school bus safety rules.

The MNVS activists arrived at the school along with the print and electronic media and confronted the school principal, Jose Kurien, on the state of buses used by the school. "We found that their school buses weren't equipped with first-aid boxes or fire extinguishers. This is violation of law," added Gavas. However, those present in the principal's cabin on Wednesday afternoon told TOI that the MNVS activists attacked the school principal first, following which many school teachers tried to stop the activists. "They roughed up female teachers too. How can such hooligans be allowed to enter schools?" said a teacher.

FULL STORY of what happened in the school yesterday !!!

A group of six Maharashtra Navnirman Sena activists barged into DAV Public School in Nerul on Wednesday, allegedly beat up a watchman and a peon, blackened the face of the principal with ink and damaged equipment.

According to the police, the activists were protesting against the windows of the school buses not having grills, which they say is unsafe for the children. The school has 32 buses.

Shortly before noon, the activists managed to gain easy access into the school. Once in, they shouted slogans and marched straight to the principal's office where they ran riot.

Principal Jose Kurian said, "I don't know the exact reason for their agitation. They kept waving photographs of buses and speaking in Marathi. I could not understand what they were saying. I asked them to come into my office, but they turned unruly. Hearing the commotion, teachers and other staff members rushed to my room. They asked the activists to leave, but they turned violent and broke the telephone, a computer, a table and the CCTV. They also threw things at us, injuring many of the staff .They even blackened my face with ink.

A case of rioting and illegal trespassing has been registered by the NRI police. All six activists - Gajanan Krishna Kale, Pranay Kumar, Nitin Naik, Ashwin Kutir, Veer Janardhan Sutar and Nitin Nana Chauhan - who are in their 20s, have been arrested.

Senior Inspector Suresh Vedak of the NRI police said, "The activists were protesting that the windows of the school buses do not have grills. They felt the buses are not safe for the children, and hence wanted to confront the school authorities about it. They created a ruckus during which the watchman and a peon were beaten up."

Principal Kurian added, "We were caught unaware by the protest. The staff are very hurt and upset with this kind of behaviour. We always ensure that students get the best possible education and facilities. Safety has always been our priority."

While the school in Nerul remained closed for the rest of the afternoon, all DAV schools in the city will remain closed on Thursday as a mark of protest.