Principal booked for abetting teacher’s suicide in Bidadi

Bengaluru: A 45-year-old principal with a private international school in Bidadi was arrested on charges of abetting the suicide of his 37-year-old staff teacher, who taught Kannada to high school students. Prashanth Lokare, principal of Basaveshwara International School, Timmegowdanadoddi, was sent to judicial custody at Ramanagara district prison.
Police said they arrested Lokare based on a complaint filed by the woman's husband, Prof Vinod Kumar V Nandaragi from Amrita College of Engineering."My wife, Saraswati, was found hanging in the bedroom on Feb 13. In her death note, she accused Prashant Lokare and another teacher of humiliating her for questioning the corporal punishment given to our son," the complaint read.The couple's two sons studied in the same school, and the elder one was allegedly beaten up by the class teacher for not completing homework, Nandaragi said in his complaint."Saraswati questioned the class teacher about the punishment and why she repeatedly beat him up, and the matter reached Lokare. However, Lokare humiliated and insulted Saraswati. Unable to withstand the insults, Saraswati returned home and died by suicide," the complaint read.The Nandaragi couple hailed from Muddebihal in north Karnataka and lived in Amritha Engineer Collage Quarters, Timmegowdanadoddi.If you are having suicidal thoughts or are in need of emotional support, call suicide-prevention helplines: Tele-Manas helpline: 14416 or 1800-891-4416, Sahai Helpline: 080-25497777.