The All Nagaland Private Schools Association (ANPSA) has expressed shock and anguish at the arrest of Akhole Puro, headmistress of Everest English School, Maharganj in Uttar Pradesh, allegedly on unsubstantiated charges.
According to ANPSA, Puro was both headmistress and owner of the school and had been at Maharganj for the past 20 years running the school.
Affiliated to Central Board of Secondary Education, Everest School was established in 1997 and has classes up to 10.
In a press release, ANPSA president Bithungo Kikon and general secretary Nini Sekhose said they had alerted National Independent Schools’ Alliance (NISA) to take up the matter and help the school and Puro at the earliest.
NISA president would be leading a delegation to Maharganj immediately for fact-finding purpose, the release added.
ANPSA expressed gratitude to Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio for taking a personal interest in the matter and informing Union Minister of State for Home, Kiren Rijiju, who had assured to personally look into the case.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had also assured the Chief Minister all possible help in the matter.
As schools are public places accessible to a lot of people at any time, ANPSA said it was heartening to note that the government of the day had taken the matter seriously and was extending all help to solve the case and bring the perpetrators to book.
