Violence erupted at a high school in Kushmandi block of South Dinajpur district over the death of a student on Wednesday.

A group of villagers, who were angry over the boy’s death, vandalised the school, beat up the headmaster and other teachers, and torched the library and two-wheelers owned by the staff.

A large contingent of police reached the spot and brought the situation under control. The police are patrolling the area to prevent any further breach of peace.

Sources said Abhijit Sarkar, 12, a Class VI student of Kachra High School, a state-aided higher secondary school, was standing in a line to collect his mid-day meal.

Villagers demonstrate in front of the Kachra High School on Wednesday. Kousik Sen

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 joined the protests.

As the news spread, 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.

The angry mob then came out of the institution and torched two-wheelers of some teachers which were parked nearby. At around 4.30pm, they raised a blockade on the Fatepur-Dehoband state highway in protest.

The demonstrators alleged that teachers of the institution are irregular in attendance.

“They hardly care about the students and today, their negligence led to the boy’s death. When he fell ill, they should have rushed him to the hospital but all they did was to pass the information to the boy’s parents,” said a villager. Soon after, Dipanjan Bhattacharya, the sub-divisional police officer of Gangarampur, reached the spot along with police personnel from Kushmandi police station. They spoke with the demonstrators and cleared the road blockade after around 45 minutes.

Basak, the headmaster, denied the charge. “We are also mourning the boy’s death. Immediately after he fell ill, we provided him with basic treatment and informed his family. There have been no lapses on our part,” he claimed.

He also alleged that the boy’s family incited some locals who carried out the attack on the school.

“They have snatched away my laptop and a gold chain and assaulted me. I will file a complaint with the police against them,” Basak added.

Police officials said they are probing the incident. “Our men are patrolling in the area,” said an officer.