Kolkata ragging case: Three arrested for vandalising school

Three people were arrested Saturday for vandalism at a high school in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district following the death of girl student after being ragged. Students and parents also took out a silent march condemning the ransacking as well demanding the the school's re-opening.

The 131-year old Christ Church school in Dum Dum witnessed unprecedented scenes Thursday as hundreds of people - mostly parents - ransacked the institution, holed up principal and other teachers inside a dark room and eventually forcing principal Helen Sarkar to resign. The three people include a parent while two others are outsiders. A court sent them to three days' police custody.

Meanwhile current and former students as well as teachers organised a silent march from the school to the residence of the deceased student during the day demanding punishment both to those involved in vandalism and those responsible for death of 10-year-old Oindrila Das.

The Class 5 student died Wednesday a week after she was allegedly locked up inside the school toilet by some of her seniors who demanded money from her. The principal is now in police custody on several non-bailable charges including extortion, wrongful detention and criminal intimidation.

Governor MK Narayanan minced no words while condemning the vandalism of the school. "I am depressed. If parents do not have discipline what can you expect from students," Narayanan said.

With the students of the school slated to appear for the board exams expressing apprehension about their future following destruction of documents during the vandalism, the State School Education Department has assured that necessary steps to ensure they are not prevented from appearing in the exams.

Both the School Education Department as well as the Calcutta Diocese of the Church of North India, a body that administers the school, are exploring ways to to re-open the school which has been closed indefinitely in the wake of the incident.