Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday assured the mother of the deceased student who was allegedly locked inside a toilet by her seniors last week, that she would look into the matter.
A combat police force was posted in and around the ChristChurchGirlsHigh School in the northern part of the city after the guardians went on a rampage in the school office and damaged furniture.
The guardians, joined by locals, laid a siege to the school's main gate, holding the school authorities responsible for 11-year-old Oindrilla Das' death and demanding that the principal be removed and handed over to them.
A senior police officer requested the guardians not to take law into their own hands and remain calm. "We appeal to you not to take law in your hands and let us act," he said. Mamata talked to the girl's mother over phone and consoled her assuring she would look into it. Principal Helen Sarkar, who along with six other teachers
were confined within the school due to agitation, apologised to the guardians and assured that an inquiry would be held into the student's death. "The incident is unfortunate and we will take all steps to ensure that such incidents do not recur," the principal said over a microphone from the first floor balcony of the school, urging the guardians to keep patience.
Police sources said that the guardians entered the school in the morning and ransacked the office premises, damaged furniture and demanded punishment of those responsible for the death of the class five student. Additional Commisioner of Police (Belghoria) Biswajit Ghosh, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Hq) Kallon Gonai and senior police officers were camping at the school in view of high tension.
No classes were held due to agitation.
The parents took away their wards from the school's hostel on the ground of lack of security. State education minister Bratya Basu described the incident as "painful and horrific" and said, "The state government was for taking stern measures against those responsible for ragging in educational institutions".
He said private schools have also their responsibilities in this regard and would not be spared if found guilty of not taking any proper action.
"I have spoken to the family of the girl. I am told that the girl was traumatised and locked up in the toilet of the school. This is unfortunate," Basu, who is also the Trinamool Congress legislator from Dum Dum, said.
Basu said he had instructed his department to inquire into the incident and submit a report. The girl student was severely traumatised when a group of her seniors allegedly locked her inside a toilet after school hours last week demanding money from her, the police said.
As she screamed in fright, a sweeper brought her out and took her home. Soon after, she slipped into a state of shock forcing her parents to admit her in a nursing home where she died on Wednesday. The school principal had earlier denied any knowledge of the incident.
