Shaken and Stirred

Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, November 21
As parts of the city burned school students bore the brunt of violence. The problem worsened as many schools gave over between 11.30 am 1.30 pm when the trouble was at its peak in Park Circus connector, Beniapukur area, Ripon Street, A. J. C Bose Road and Moulali.
Many students were stuck in their institutions for over 5 hours. The horror for many students began with a school bus being attacked outside St James’ School on A.J.C. Bose Road. With broken bottles and tube lights littering the road, neighbouring Pratt Memorial students stayed put inside their institution. Students of St Augustine’s Day School located on A.J.C. Bose Road and Rippon Street crossing suffered from headaches thanks to tear gas shells lobbed by the police to prevent the mob from entering the school premises.
“This is for the first time I am witnessing such pandemonium in the heart of the city. The children were scared and with the violence right outside we decided not to release them unless parents arrived,” said T. Ireland, principal of St. James’. Students of La Martiniere for Boys and Girls got stranded.
One of the worst affected was the students of Mahadevi Birla Girls High School located near Park Circus connector. The authorities shut the main gate and teachers stood behind as shields. “This is a girls school and we have to ensure the safety of students and teachers. The children were hungry but we were helpless. We will keep our school closed on Thursday,” said Malini Bhagat, vice-principal. Anticipating trouble and due to a curfew from 10 pm to 6 am many schools with early morning sessions have already declared a holiday on November 22.
South Point Junior section called back its bus number 6, which had to go through Park Circus area. “There were 40 students inside the bus and we called it back,” said Madhu Kohli, principal of the junior section.
Students of Lady Brabourne College also were targeted with stones being thrown inside. The mob also tried to break down the gate, which was closed. “Fortunately they could not enter but they had trouble in mind. I called up the police,” said principal Sanghamitra Mukherjee. Students with stepped out with police escort after the army was deployed in the area.
St. Xavier’s College did not allow any of its students to leave. Harried parents also were a tense lot with many phoning up schools. Chitto De came from his office at Salt Lake to collect his son from St. James’. When he could not be spotted, De broke down. School authorities explained his son was released as his wife had asked their neighbour to collect him. “I stay in Park Circus and since the network was jammed I could not contact my wife,” De said.
Rikdha Murarka, who was stuck with her daughter inside Pratt Memorial for three hours lashed out at the police. “This is nothing but police inaction. If a violent mob throws stones and bottles the police is expected to control it. The mob was not armed,” she said.
Even schools and colleges away from the troubled zone did not take any chance. Birla High, Ashok Hall, Laxmipat Singhania Academy, Modern High, Loreto House, Heritage School, DPS decided not to release students unless parents come to collect them. The school buses were also held back.
Mou.Chakraborty@hindustantimes.com