Jul 19, 2010

Learn about cults from a man who’s seen them from the inside

Commonwealth Club
July 19, 2010

Listen to David Sullivan, Professional Cult Investigator

"Learn about cults from a man who’s seen them from the inside. Professional investigator Sullivan describes the process of identifying and investigating cults, providing an overview of how cults recruit, convert and maintain control of their members through a variety of psychologically coercive techniques. A licensed private investigator for more than 19 years, Sullivan has worked in collaboration with leading authorities in the area of undue influence."

Jul 8, 2010

Boy attempts suicide in Orai,alleges thrashing by class teacher, principal

July 8, 2010 


"A student of Maharishi Vidya Mandir Inter College in Orai,Jalaun district,jumped from the third floor of the school building after an alleged thrashing by his Principal and class teacher on Wednesday morning."

A student of Maharishi Vidya Mandir Inter College in Orai,Jalaun district,jumped from the third floor of the school building after an alleged thrashing by his Principal and class teacher on Wednesday morning.

Sumit Singh Chauhan (17) is a student of Class XII and is undergoing treatment at the Jalaun district hospital. Both his legs have been fractured.

Sumit’s father Ashok Kumar Chauhan,an engineer with the Public Works Department,held the school authorities responsible for the suicide attempt. “My son could not bear the humiliation before his friends,therefore he tried to end his life,” he said.

He has filed a complaint with the Jalaun Kotwali police station. But the police are yet to lodge an FIR against the school authorities. The charges levelled by Chauhan,they said,are still being investigated.

Sumit told mediapersons: “On Wednesday morning,my class teacher G P Rathod humiliated and thrashed me before my classmates for not paying fees on time.” He was then taken to the office of Principal A N Singh,where he was beaten up and humiliated again.

“Upset over the issue,I went to the third floor of the school building and jumped,” he added.

Superintendent of Police,Jalaun,Prem Gautam,however,said: “Prima facie it appears that the student was not thrashed or humiliated by the school staff.” Sumit’s classmates will be questioned about the incident,he said.

Sumit was poor in academics and had been absent for the past six days,Gautam said. “He had failed in the Class XI final exams and was admitted in Class XII only after a re-exam conducted in May.” Further,though the school re-opened after summer vacation on July 1,Sumit went for his classes only on Wednesday,he added.

On his part,Vice-Principal AK Katiyar denied that the student was thrashed by any staff member.

“Sumit’s school fees were not paid on time and the class teacher reminded him about the issue,but the allegations that he was thrashed are baseless,” Katiyar said.

He also pointed out that Sumit was poor in academics.

“He did not complete the homework assigned to him for the summer vacation and when the class teacher questioned him,he failed to give a satisfactory answer,” Katiyar added.

Following this,Sumit was taken to the office of the Principal. Katiyar maintained that the school administration was willing to bear Sumit’s medical expenses.


https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/lucknow/boy-attempts-suicide-in-orai-alleges-thrashing-by-class-teacher-principal/