Wahengbam Rorrkychand
Saiton Government High School under Kumbi Assembly Constituency in Bishnupur district has remained closed after four students of class VIII were reportedly possessed with evil spirits last week.
When this reporter of Imphal Times visited the school on hearing the news about the mass possession, the school wore a deserted look after school authority announced a week’s holiday till Monday (June, 29, 2015).
Four students of class VIII were reportedly possessed by evil powers. Among them two girls start quarreling after they were possessed allegedly with Helloi and Durga (Meitei/ Hindu deity) and demanded to build temples for the spirits at a same spot inside the campus.
Locals and school authority performed rite to free the young students from the possession while the rest of the students were sent off for a week’s holiday.
A student of class VI, who is planning to change school from the next academic session, expressed displeasure over repeated announcement of holidays in the last few days.
“Our school has lots of holidays and classes are not conducted regularly. We have a long summer vacation and again one more holiday this time due to possession,” said the student.
“Everyday all my friends go to school while I stay in home due to holiday. I will admit in a private school in Kumbi; there classes are conducted regularly,” he added.
His grandmother also told this paper that students of the school have lost interest to attend class as the teachers are absent most of the time. There are around 7 teachers in the school, which has classes from VI-X with about 300 students.
“This is the lone high school in the area. The school is almost finished; no one is there to look after. The school premise is full of dirt. It (possession) is due to the dirt piled up inside the campus. If the school is clean there would not be such evil spirits,” she observed.
During the inspection it was found that the co-educational school, which was established in the year 1958, has no library facility, has only five class rooms.
Soon after the visit, the reporter called on district education officers and informed about the present situation in the school.
The district authority assured to keep under careful scrutiny and take necessary measures soon after field inspection.
Image used for Representation purpose only
