Police arrested 14 people, including a minor, during a student protest at Shaktigarh Girls’ School over an alleged fee hike. Although the minor was part of the arrested group, he was not sent to juvenile court and was instead produced before the Jalpaiguri district court along with the other accused. The court granted bail to all 14 arrested persons on Sunday.
The incident occurred on Saturday when an intense student protest broke out at Shaktigarh Girls’ School. Police clashed with school students and members of the ADAISO organisation during the protest and subsequently arrested 14 people. The organisation has claimed that one of the arrested individuals is a minor and a Class XI student of Shaktigarh Boys’ High School.
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Cases were filed under various sections, including charges related to obstructing government work, inciting violence, and assaulting police. In this context, the accused’s lawyer, Druti Roy, alleged that the police had booked the accused under several serious charges, including obstructing government work, inciting violence, and assaulting police personnel, but failed to place any documentary evidence before the court to support those allegations.
Sourav Mohanta, office secretary of the organisation’s Darjeeling district committee, alleged excesses by the police, claiming that the action was intended to suppress a democratic movement. He further said that it should be investigated whether the police were acting under instructions from leaders of the ruling party.
Responding to the allegations, DCP Rakesh Singh of the Siliguri Police Commissionerate said the police could not ascertain whether the individual was a minor without valid certificates. He maintained that there was no excess on the part of the police and that action was taken strictly in accordance with the law, adding that those who believe the police erred are free to pursue legal remedies.
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The protest was triggered by allegations that Shaktigarh Girls’ School was charging ₹400 instead of the government-fixed ₹240. Demonstrations and road blockades continued for about five hours. School headmistress Sushma Pal Roy declined to comment on the matter.
Kaushik Dutta, president of the school’s governing body and a Trinamool leader from Shaktigarh, clarified that while the official admission fee stood at ₹240, charges for sports, the Saraswati Puja subscription, and the ID card were collected together. He alleged that the student organisation had misled students and steered them in the wrong direction.
