'One principal had tried to suppress facts'

CHANDIGARH: The principal of one of the schools out of four, of which students were being blackmailed by three youths, had refused to take the grievances of the victim students to the local police and advised their parents to handle the problem at their level.
The disturbing fact emerged during a recording of the statements of victims, who preferred to stay away from the routine police proceedings.The kin of one of the victims said: "We were advised to handle the issue at our own level. Subsequently, the police came to know about it and approached us."
The accused, including Rattan Lubana, who belongs to a well-to-do family; Rajveer Singh, son of a Chandigarh Police constable; and Amitoz Singh of Mohali have been remanded in judicial custody on Thursday.
Sources told ToI that though about hundreds of school students were found to be in touch with the accused, only a few of them preferred to record their statements, while parents of most of the students requested the police not to drag them in the case.
Lubana, Rajveer, and Amitoz were arrested for extorting money from students of four leading schools, including convent schools, after befriending them and using their influence on January 18. IG (UT) RP Upadhyay said: "We will shortly form a committee comprising school principals to change the mindset of students for not hiring youths just to impress their friends. It is a damaging trend, which is increasing among city students."