Bihar students fight teachers for phones

Khammam: Fifteen students from Bihar belonging to the Kendriya Navodaya Vidyalayam in Palair jumped over the compound wall in the middle of the night and walked to the mandal headquarters in Kusumanchi, 7 km away. They left the school in protest against the teachers seizing their playing cards and cell phones.

They were tracked by the Vidyalam principal Sobanavalli and others in a vehicle. The police was informed and sub-inspector Ashok Reddy intercepted them. They were taken to the police station where they were counselled by the police and the teachers.

The students, in Class 8 and 9, had come to Palair KNV as part of a student exchange programme between Navodaya schools. The students did not attend classes on Saturday evening. When the warden went to their rooms to enquire, the students were playing cards and using their cell phones. As per the rules, cell phones are not allowed in the rooms.  

The students protested when the staff recovered cell phones and cards from them. In the aftermath of the confiscation, they escaped from the school by jumping over the wall.

They did not properly respond to the questions asked by the police. They alleged that they were provoked by local students. The sub-inspector tried to convince them to go back to the school. But the discussion ended with the students telling the sub-inspector that they will go to their native places.

They returned to the school after a long counselling session. The issue was taken to the notice of higher officials of the KNV management, who appointed a three-member committee that was asked to submit a report.