The school that was closed on Friday to mourn the death of a student. (Nantu Dey)

Raiganj, July 10: Police had to be called in today at Sudarshanpur Dwarikaprasad Uchha Vidyachakra School after several Class XII students and their guardians protested against the alleged spanking given to a boy after he had whistled during a freshers’ welcome programme on July 8.

The teachers and members of the school’s managing committee later held a meeting and declared that the matter had been resolved, but the students said they would not budge till the teachers who beat up the boy apologised.

The demonstration began after the school was declared closed at 11am to mourn the death of a student. The students began the protest from of the staff room of the school. The institute was closed yesterday, the day after the welcome of the Class XI students.

“While the Class XI students were being inducted into the school at the welcome ceremony on Wednesday, I suddenly whistled involuntarily. Soon, a few teachers called me over and began scolding me. When I admitted that I had whistled, they began beating me up after dragging me into the staff room,” said Biswajit Saha, a Class XII student.

He alleged that inside the staff room, about six-seven teachers rained blows on him. “They beat me up for half-an-hour and tore my shirt. I was dragged out and made to stand before other students and made to apologise,” Biswajit alleged. He said he felt unwell after he returned home and narrated the incident to his father.

His father, Bidhan Saha, a local businessman who was present at today’s protest, said the teachers were free to spank naughty boys in school but not give them a hammering like his son was subject to. “I have submitted a complaint with the school managing committee asking them to take action against the teachers who beat up my son,” he said.

The school authorities called the police when the demonstration began to turn tense with the boys, numbering about 50, refusing to leave the campus.

The teachers said they were very upset with the behaviour of the senior boys.

“They often pass offending remarks at us and whistle lewdly at passing woman teachers. They take the slightest opportunity to make objectionable comments at us and even make obscene gestures,” said a woman teacher. “We did not complain against them considering their future,” she said.

Assistant headmaster of the school Bikash Deb said there was a minor disciplinary problem at the school today, but that had been resolved after talking to the students.