Saha at his residence in Alipurduar. Picture by Anirban Choudhury

Alipurduar, April 2: An HS candidate beat up an invigilator who caught him cheating in the exam hall at McWilliam High School in Alipurduar town today, but the teacher has decided not to press charges against the boy as it would “ruin his academic career”.

Bibek Saha, a chemistry teacher at McWilliam, caught Nibash Shingho Roy copying from a sheet of paper when the students of Sonapur B.K. High School were writing their philosophy paper at the institution.

Saha snatched the paper as well as the answer script from Nibash, who became furious and demanded that the teacher hand the sheets back. When Saha refused to budge, Nibash repeatedly hit him on the face, drawing blood.

Alerted by the commotion, other teachers of the school rushed to the first floor exam hall and took Saha downstairs with blood dripping from his nose on the floor and steps. He was admitted to hospital and after first aid, taken to his house in Suryanagar.

By then, the headmaster of McWilliam, Sudhangshu Biswas, had informed Alipurduar police and the subdivisional officer. The guilty student was kept confined in the teachers’ room.

Saha, however, decided not to lodge a complaint with the police. “When I asked Saha about the incident, he started crying and requested me not to take action against Nibash. He said any punitive action would ruin the boy’s academic career,” said the headmaster.

When The Telegraph contacted Saha, he refused comment. “I cannot talk about the incident. Please go and talk to the school authorities,” he said.

Nibash, who lives with his mother in the Sonapur area of the town, said he could not control himself when Saha snatched the papers from him.

“I still do not understand why I slapped the teacher. I am extremely sorry for what I did. After the incident, I could not finish the exam. I have the environment science paper left and I don’t know whether I will be allowed to sit for it,” said the student.

Nibash’s father died a couple of years ago.

Biswas said he was proud of the teacher for showing mercy on an errant student, but added that letting Nibash go scot-free might encourage other students to indulge in this kind of behaviour in future. “The boy has admitted in writing that he had copied from a sheet of paper in the exam hall and assaulted the teacher who tried to prevent him from doing so,” the headmaster said.

The teachers of Sonapur B.K. High School have been told about the incident. “They said they were surprised by Nibash’s behaviour, as he is known to be a mild mannered boy,” said Biswas.

Ajit Sarkar, a managing committee member of McWilliam High School, however, insisted that disciplinary action would be taken against Nibash.