Rishikul Still Open - Police

Police have stressed this hour that Rishikul Sanatan College is still open despite the statement by the school committee that they had decided to close the school.

Station Officer of Valelevu Police Station Manoj Singh said all the teachers of Rishikul are now meeting with Principal Mahendra Pal and the Divisional Education Officer Mikaele Leawere and classes will be normal today.

ASP Singh said all students are in their classrooms and parents should not come and pick up their children.

He assures the parents that the safety and security of the students is paramount and Valelevu police officers with the assistance of the Police Mobile Unit are in the school premises.

The principal of Rishikul Sanatan College was taken into his office at the school premises in Valelevu by the police to ensure that he starts work today at the school.

Although the school management has been maintaining that they do not want Principal Mahendra Pal, Police Commissioner Commodore Esala Teleni has told Village News that the Education Ministry requested the assistance of the police to ensure that Pal gets into the school office this morning.

Village News has also received confirmation that the manager of Rishikul Sanatan College Vijay Nair, some committee members, and a reporter and cameraman of Fiji TV have been taken into custody at Valelevu Police Station for allegedly hindering the work of the police officers at Rishikul.

Nair confirms that he has been taken into custody after he tried to stop Principal Mahendra Pal entering the premises.

It’s understood that Fiji TV lawyers are also speaking to the police to secure the release of their staff.

Earlier this morning, the manager of the school Vijay Nair maintained that Principal Mahendra Pal will not be allowed in the premises by the management today. Nair said that in the management meeting last night all their members stood firm on this decision.