Daribhit High School in North Dinajpur, which had remained closed for 50 days following the death of two youths in a clash over the appointment of teachers, reopened on Saturday but classes could not be held as protesters argued with administrative and political leaders.

With the protesters — family members of the two youths and residents — threatening to launch a sit-in at the school gate from Wednesday if their demands are not met, there is uncertainty over whether classes can be held.

The protesters finally allowed Islampur MLA Kanhaiyalal Agarwal, local sub-divisional officer Manish Mishra and the schoolteachers to enter the premises around noon on Saturday, but by then the 900-odd students who had come around 10am had left.

“We allowed them to enter the school campus. But we also submitted a memorandum to Islampur SDO listing our demands. If our demands are not fulfilled by November 13, we will begin a sit-in at the school gate from the next day,” said Nilkamal Sarkar, the father of deceased youth Rajesh.

Besides a CBI probe into the deaths of the youths during the September 20 clash, the protesters have demanded the release of eight persons arrested on the charge of arson, the suspension of teachers involved in the incident and the identification and arrest of those who attacked villagers that day.

Tempers began rising when the Islampur MLA and SDO reached the school around 10am to oversee the reopening.

An argument ensued near the school gate when locals and family members of the deceased youths insisted that they would hand over the keys to the locks they had put at the gates only to the district magistrate as they were not happy with the SDO.

“We are not happy with the way things have been handled and the role of the SDO was not impartial…. Our demands have not been fulfilled and this is why we wanted to hand over the keys to the DM,” said a villager.

With the villagers refusing to allow the officials and teachers to enter the MLA and the SDO held a meeting with the protesters.

Around noon the villagers agreed to allow the officials and teachers to enter the school by handing over the keys to the SDO, who opened the gate.

“After the suspension of the headmaster and his deputy, the school education department had issued a notice that the school should reopen today (Saturday),” said a source in the district administration.

The district administration had sent a team of teachers and officials on November 6 to talk to the family of the deceased youths. On that day, the residents had agreed to allow the school to reopen in the larger interests of the students. However, the school could not be reopened immediately as the villagers wanted the administration to fulfil their demands first.

On Saturday, the villagers relented and agreed to wait till November 13.

Agarwal, the Islampur MLA, said on Saturday: “We have managed to reopen the school following a discussion with residents. The arrested persons will be produced in court on November 13. We will try to get them released on bail that day.”

DM Arvind Meena said: “The SDO is part of the district administration and he had gone there as our representatives. He is also the administrator of the school as the managing committee has been dissolved.”