Demand Driver’s Release Pending Medical Report
Jamshedpur: Following the arrest of a school van driver on charges of attempted rape of a minor in the Birsanagar police station area, the Jamshedpur School Vehicle Operations Committee has called for an indefinite strike starting Friday. The driver, identified as Mannu Kumar Pandey, a resident of Radhikanagar, Telco, was arrested on Wednesday and sent to judicial custody.
The committee members expressed their outrage on Thursday, alleging that the police acted unilaterally under pressure without conducting a proper investigation. They claimed that Pandey, who has been driving school vans for 30 years without a single complaint, has been framed as part of a conspiracy. The operators have declared that all vans, autos, and school buses in the city will remain off the roads from Friday until Pandey is released from jail.
The protesters further stated that the strike would not end until an impartial investigation is conducted, the medical report is released, and a joint meeting is held with the administration and the family members.
Social worker Ankit Anand, who held discussions with school managements regarding the situation, alleged that the local police acted in haste without even informing the driver’s family. He urged the local administration and schools to ensure mandatory police verification for all academic and non-academic staff.
Key Demands and Observations:
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SIT Probe: Demands have been raised for the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to ensure a fair probe.
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Jurisdiction Issue: It was pointed out that while the alleged incident occurred in the Telco area, the case was registered at the Birsanagar police station.
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Safety Guidelines: Emphasis was placed on the strict implementation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) as per NCPCR guidelines in all schools.
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Monitoring Committee: The formation of a special committee to monitor safety protocols in schools has been proposed, for which school managements have reportedly given assurances.
