Following the discovery of alleged human feces in a drinking water tank at a government school in Manur village near Palani, the Dindigul administration and municipal authorities initiated a formal inquiry to investigate the incident
The school has around 120 students.
Senior education officials and police were alerted promptly,” he said. Staff discovered a damaged pipeline connected to the overhead tank and found the water contaminated. Officials suspect deliberate tampering, though police are yet to identify those responsible. However, parents alleged that they were informed about the incident only two days later during a parent-teacher association meeting. Villagers subsequently surrounded the school, demanding action against those responsible for contaminating the water and officials accused of withholding information. “No student consumed the contaminated water. Parents confronted the officials over the alleged delay in disclosing the contamination and demanded the headmaster’s immediate suspension for administrative negligence.
The incident came to light at Panchayat Union Primary School in Manur, Dindigul district, on Monday, when classes resumed after the quarterly holidays. Headmaster Jayakumar denied concealing the incident, saying the tank was emptied, cleaned and disinfected with bleaching powder immediately after the contamination was discovered on Monday morning. On Thursday, education department officials, block development officers and police inspectors met parents and school management committee members at the campus.
Dindigul superintendent of police S Jayakumar inspected the school and damaged tank, questioned teachers and school administrators, and directed investigators to trace those involved. Keeranur police registered a case based on the headmaster’s complaint and formed a special investigation team .