A government college in the Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh witnessed intense drama after an outsource vocational teacher engaged in a physical scuffle with student activists and destroyed a student's mobile phone. Following the incident and widespread outrage generated by video footage of the altercation, college authorities placed guest faculty member Amit Vaid under suspension. The teacher was also made to pay 22,000 rupees in compensation to the affected student for smashing his smartphone during the confrontation. A internal inquiry panel has been constituted to investigate the matter thoroughly.
Classroom Confrontation and Phone Destruction
The controversy unfolded on August 18, when the Chamba unit of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) called for a campus wide protest and boycott of classes over student issues. As part of their mobilization effort, ABVP activists visited various lecture halls to inform students about the boycott call. When the group entered a B.Voc classroom to address the enrolled students, guest vocational teacher Amit Vaid objected strongly to their entry without prior permission. The disagreement quickly escalated into a heated argument between the teacher and the visiting student representatives.
Video clips captured by onlookers reveal the confrontation escalating into physical violence as the teacher lost his temper. The footage shows Amit Vaid, clad in a t-shirt, grabbing an ABVP worker by the neck and clothing while attempting to push him. When students confronted the teacher regarding his alleged use of abusive language, the situation worsened. In a fit of rage, the teacher snatched a student's mobile phone and threw it onto the floor, destroying the device. The video also caught the teacher defying the activists and telling them to do whatever they could.
Formal Complaint and Threat of Agitation
Taking strong exception to the faculty member's conduct, ABVP department convener Arpit Jariyal submitted a formal written complaint to the Deputy Commissioner of Chamba. In the complaint, the student organization detailed the physical assault, verbal abuse, and intentional property damage caused by the teacher inside an academic space. Demanding immediate official intervention and strict disciplinary action, the ABVP leadership issued an ultimatum to the authorities. They warned that if prompt action was not taken against the teacher, the organization would stage a major protest outside the SDM office.
Suspension Order and Monetary Compensation
In response to the growing tension, the college administration convened an emergency meeting and summoned guest teacher Amit Vaid to explain his actions. After reviewing the video evidence and preliminary facts, college officials decided to suspend Amit Vaid from his duties pending the outcome of the inquiry. During the administrative meeting, the claim regarding the destroyed mobile phone was substantiated, prompting Amit Vaid to pay 22,000 rupees directly to the student as monetary relief for the damages. College officials confirmed that further administrative measures will be finalized once the fact-finding committee submits its detailed investigation report.
