Two Class IX boys were allegedly beaten up by the authorities of a private residential coaching centre located on the 16th Mile area under Baishnabnagar police station of Malda on Friday night.

Both are seriously injured and are under treatment at the intensive care unit of a private nursing home.

Some other students have sustained minor injuries. The guardians have claimed that the students were assaulted because they had protested against poor quality of food served for dinner.

A police complaint has been filed against authorities of the coaching centre named Target Point R. Police visited the spot and arrested Mohammad Samsujjoha, the superintendent of the centre.

Guardians of the injured alleged that despite paying a big sum for food and accommodation, food served to youngsters was of poor quality.

“Yesterday (Friday), students said lunch was stale. But paying no heed them, stale food was served for dinner too,” a guardian said, adding when their wards protested, it angered the superintendent and some other staff.

“They asked the students to arrange their meal themselves. Some students went out to buy food. As they returned, the superintendent and some others started beating them mercilessly. Two of them suffered fractures and severe injuries and were taken to a private nursing home by the authorities,” said a source.

Uzir Hossain, the principal of the coaching centre, conceded that some students had been beaten up by the superintendent. “It is an unfortunate incident. We are looking into it with seriousness,” he said.

Police said probe was on. “The superintendent has been arrested. We are collecting information about others,” said an officer.