Indian teacher flees after boxcutter threat from students

An Indian teacher has fled Shaviyani atoll after students assaulted him and threatened him with a boxcutter, local media reported Thursday, the second incident of school violence in as many days.

VFP Online reported that the teacher worked at Funadhoo island school.

An eyewitness said the grade 10 students were unhappy with the way an assignment had been marked and initially attacked the teacher with a chair.

“The teacher went to the supervisor’s room but was sent back to the class by his superiors. That is when they put a boxcutter to his neck. He has left for Malé now to leave the country,” the eyewitness told VFP.

Funadhoo school officials refused to give more information on the incident while Education Ministry officials were unavailable for comment.

Earlier this week Majeediyyaa School teachers went on strike after one of their number was suspended for defending himself when assaulted by a student.

The Indian teacher was threatened by a gang, according to local media. He left the country with his wife, who was a teacher at the same school.

There were two separate assaults on school premises at the start of the year, with one student attacked in a case of mistaken identity.

At the time the education ministry said it was working with police on strengthening security in schools.

Photo: VFP