Enraged over the death of a teenager in an accident involving a school van, a mob set fire to the school in Chokkenahalli on Wednesday.
The group had gathered outside Green Grove School to stage a protest demanding compensation for the family of Sampath Kumar (17), who was run over by the school bus on Tuesday. But, around 3.30 p.m. when they did not get a response from the school, they became restive and some started damaging school property.
With the protesters outnumbering the school’s caretakers, they barged into the premises, ransacked it and set fire to the furniture, police said.
Fortunately, the school was closed.
The Kodigehalli police added that they had not received a complaint about the attack.
Meanwhile, the management of the school, which was started only two years ago, expressed shock and said they don’t even have insurance.
According to the school owner Aruna P., the police have arrested Sharanappa Patil for the road accident. “He is not the school bus driver but the security guard. The driver was on leave as the school was closed for the festival.”
She added, “The bus was locked in the garage. We are not able to understand who took it out for a drive.”
Ms. Aruna and others in the management said they were away in Andhra Pradesh for the holidays. They returned on Wednesday to attend to the matter, “But before we could reach the school, it was set on fire,” said Ms. Aruna, who reached the city a few hours after the attack.
Joint Commissioner (West) S. Ravi said investigation into the accident was still being conducted and added that action would be taken against those who resorted to arson.
