Bangiriposi: As many as 500 students of Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS) at Shyamsundarpur in Bangiriposi block of Mayurbhanj district walked for 6 km and blocked National Highway 49 at Kolkata Chowk Saturday, demanding the immediate transfer of the school principal.
Alleging that the principal had failed to address their long-standing grievances, the students walked about 6 km from their school to the protest site on NH-49. More than 500 students staged the road blockade from 11 am to 2:30 pm, holding placards and demanding action and immediate trans fer of the principal.
The students alleged that they were being served poor-quality food, uniforms were not distributed on time and classes were being held in violation of government holidays. On being informed, Bangiriposi MLA Sanjali Murmu, former minister Sudam Marndi, Additional District Magistrate Dukhabandhu Nayak, District Welfare Officer Gurucharan Mallik and local Block Development Officer Paramananda Khandai reached the spot and tried to pacify the protesters.
Following the District Collector’s direction, the principal was ordered to proceed on leave indefinitely. The additional district magistrate also assured the students that all their complaints would be investigated promptly.
The students withdrew the blockade after getting assurances. However, the protest left hundreds of vehicles stranded on the highway.
A platoon of police personnel was deployed at the site. Bangiriposi police station inspector-in-charge Panchanan Mohanty monitored the arrangements to maintain law and order.