An attempt by a group of teachers to facilitate the reopening of Daribhit High School was foiled by local people on Wednesday also.

Like on Tuesday, the teachers, including Anil Mondal, reached the village on Wednesday morning.

“On Tuesday, we could at least reach the playground in front of the school. But on Wednesday, villagers stopped us at the local market. In fact, the protests were more intense and they were not ready to listen to us,” said Mondal.

The school is a co-educational higher secondary institution and has over 1,900 students. Among them, there are many students who will appear for Madhyamik and higher secondary exams next year.

It has been closed since September 20 when violence had occurred over the recruitment of two teachers. Due to the incident, two local youths, who were former students, died from bullet injuries.

“We tried to explain to the protesters who had virtually confined us at the local market that the school needed to be reopened as classes stopped for over 20 days now. Also, several other official works are pending. The school premises also need to be cleaned. They were, however, reluctant and accused us of acting as mouthpieces of the administration,” said another teacher who had been to Daribhit on Wednesday.

The locals, he said, reiterated that unless a CBI investigation was ordered, they would not let the school reopen.

With the teachers being stopped twice by the residents, officials of the state education department have expressed concern. “The school should reopen immediately as after the Durga Puja holidays,” said an official.