Students block teachers' entry

Students block teachers at the Alipurduar College on Tuesday. (Anirban Choudhury)

TT, Alipurduar, Oct. 13: Students of Alipurduar College today prevented teachers from entering the campus, alleging they were frequently late in coming to the institution.

Nearly 300 students gathered at the main entrance to the college and lined up benches to block the entry of around 15 teachers. No classes were held today as the protest was held from 10am to 1pm.

Meghna Roy, a BA first-year student, said: "We had a session at 10am today, but the teacher didn't come on time. A lot of students come from distant places but they cannot attend classes on many days because of absence of teachers. Since many teachers are frequently late, we are forced to stop their entry."

Principal in charge Sailen Debnath was on leave and he couldn't be contacted.

On September 30, alleged members of the Trinamul Congress Chhatra Parishad had ransacked the chamber of Debnath. Following the vandalism, the TMCP-run union was dissolved by the governing body. However, the students said today's protest was not under the banner of any organisation.

Nishigandha Majumder, another student, alleged that many teachers were reluctant to take classes even if they were present. "We sit idle inside classrooms most of the days because of teachers' absence. On many days, we bring teachers from their common room as they don't reach the classroom on time," said Majumder.

N. Das, a teacher, said he would come to the college whenever he had to take classes. "In the past 30 years, I have never heard of all teachers being required to be present in the college at 10am."

Sovon Kr Mandal, another teacher, said he rarely missed classes. "Unfortunately, I came late today and I will apply for a day's leave."

A teacher who didn't want to be named said most of the teachers came to the college late.