Headmaster under probe over ‘torturing’ student

NYAGATARE - POLICE in Nyagatare district is investigating a catholic school director of Ecole Technique Paroisse de Nyarurema, Father Lucian Hakizimana for allegedly ‘torturing’ a female senior six candidate.The headmaster together with Andrew Tabaruk in charge of discipline at the school reportedly engaged Immaculate Murebwayire in a physical battle in order to cut off her hair.Sources at the school said before the ugly incident, the school’s management had issued a directive ordering all female students to trim their hair a head of end year exams, Murebwayire refused.Nyarurema is a telecommunications and computer engineering school partly funded by Byumba diocese.When contacted on Thursday, the District Police Commander, Emmanuel Kalasi confirmed the development.“Yes, I have sent police officers to the school to verify what exactly happened. The girl claims she was manhandled,” Kalasi said by phone.Father Hakizimana could not be reached for a comment by press time because his cell phone was off.“They tortured me in the office and you can’t believe that the Director of Studies and Discipline helped the headmaster to cut off my hair when it was already dark,” she said.Her plea, Murebwayire added fell on dear ear as three men took hold of her and started teaching her discipline.A district official who spoke on condition of anonymity blamed the headmaster for the excessive power applied.“The case was handled unprofessional. There other options like suspension which should have been handed to her instead cutting off her hair forcefully,” the official said.The incident comes months after the district and local authorities in Gatunda sector demanded that the current school’s management be replaced over Genocide ties.Nyagatare district authorities submitted recommendations to Byumba catholic diocese to replace Nyarurema E.T.P management by next year.Ends