Bodies protest transfer of school principal; edu dept caves in

BATHINDA: Over 2,000 members of various organizations held near on Saturday held a protest near the deputy commissioner's office opposing the transfer of a government school principal. Daljit Singh (56), former principal of government senior secondary school, Bhagta Bhai Ka, was transferred to Talwandi Sabo on April 6.
However, the dharna was lifted in the evening after the state education department agreed to transfer Daljit Singh to Dialpura near Bhagta Bhai Ka and assured him of sending him back to Bhagta in October.This was stated by Bathinda SDM Damanjit Mann in the evening at dharna site. He added that the persons responsible for attack would be arrested within a week.
Members of about two dozen organizations assembled near the residence of the Bathinda deputy commissioner and a held massive protest against the transfer and demanded arrest of the persons who had misbehaved with Daljit Singh and also forcibly removed his turban on April 4, two days before he was transferred.
The protesters also accused state rural development minister Sikandar Singh Maluka to be behind transfer of Daljit Singh, who was accused of failing to maintain discipline in the school. However, Daljit claims,"The Bhagta Nagar panchayat dictated by Maluka wanted me to dance to their tunes, but I had declined to oblige them. As a result, I was transferred."
According to the villagers, Daljit had carved a niche for himself due to his strict discipline and the same was not liked by the nagar panchayat as they wanted someone who would listen to them and work according to their wishes.
"The minister wanted me to follow his diktats and when I declined to obey his illegal orders, he planned to throw me out of his constituency. I was even attacked by some anti-social elements on April 4 when I was on way to the school." Daljit Singh said while addressing the protesters.
One of the protester Darshan Singh said, "We had recovered mobile phone of one of the attackers and handed it over to the police. But the cops failed to take any action so we had no choice but to protest."
Nagar panchayat member Rakesh Kumar said "We had recommended Daljit Singh's transfer on the request of the villagers."
Meanwhile, Sikandar Singh Maluka denied supporting the accused in the case and said, "I have nothing to do with Daljit Singh's transfer".