Tarn Taran police assault victim refused admission in govt school

Amritsar, June 29
The Dalit girl from Usma village who was brutally assaulted by policemen in full public view in Tarn Taran in March has accused the Education Department of refusing her admission in a government school.
The department, however, has rubbished the claim as “false”. The girl today met National Scheduled Caste Commission Vice-Chairman Rajkumar Verka seeking his intervention in the matter. She claimed she had sought admission in Class XII (medical stream) and had met the District Education Officer (DEO) (Secondary) Paramjit Singh in this connection. She said Verka had directed her to meet the officer.
She alleged the DEO, however, refused her admission and advised her to join a private institute. She said she had completed her Class X a year ago and could not continue her education as schools were located at faraway places from her village. “I am being victimised as I am a Dalit...the infamous assault case could also be the reason,” she claimed.
Verka said he had directed the DEO to treat her case on sympathetic grounds as the girl had passed through trauma. He said he would raise the issue with the Tarn Taran Deputy Commissioner.
The DEO, however, said the admission was denied as “the girl expressed her inability to come to school regularly”. “Seventyfive per cent attendance is mandatory in government schools, but the girl said she will not be able to meet the criterion. So, I advised her to take admission in a private school,” he said.