Not a single student turned up when Kachra High School in the Kushmandi subdivision of the South Dinajpur district reopened on Monday after five days of closure triggered by violence following the death of a student.
On July 10, a group of villagers angry over the death of Abhijit Sakar, 12, a class VI student of the school, had vandalised the school, beat up the headmaster and other teachers and torched the library and two-wheelers owned by the staff.
Following a directive from the district school education department, the school was directed to reopen on Monday.
"Teachers were present but not a single student came to school on Monday and therefore classes could not be held. The teachers sincerely tried to arrange treatment for the student Avijit Sarkar, 12 but unfortunately, he succumbed to his ailments. The teachers did not deserve such a violent assault and insult," said Azahar Ali, teacher-in-charge.
Sources said Avijit was standing in a line to collect his mid-day meal. Suddenly, he fell sick, which made students of higher classes take him to the chamber of Rana Basak, the headmaster.
“Instead of rushing him to the nearest hospital in Itahar, the headmaster called up his parents. After some time, the student’s guardians reached the school. While they were taking the boy towards Itahar, he died on the way. The headmaster’s delay led to his death,” said a resident who had joined the protests.
A group of angry villagers, including some guardians, reached the school. They caught hold of Basak and beat him black and blue. Some other teachers who came to save him were also beaten up.
The attackers then ransacked the headmaster’s chamber, the teachers’ common room, twisted ceiling fans and damaged school furniture, doors and windows. They then torched the school’s library and also the two-wheelers of the teachers.
It has been learnt from the school sources that Rana Basak, the headmaster of the school, who was attacked and injured by the enraged mob, is under treatment and on leave for 15 days.
Ali, the teacher in charge, said that the infrastructure of the school needs to be restored as well.
"Electricity has been disconnected. The drinking water connection has also been damaged. The benches and desks were all broken. We have informed the situation to the higher authority," Ali said.
Ambarish Sarkar, the deputy head of zilla parishad, said that all measures were being taken to restore regular classes in the school. "We are trying to hold a meeting between the teachers and the locals to resolve the crisis. The people's representatives are talking to the guardians," he said.