Kolkata schoolgirl's death: I was forced to resign, says principal

Kolkata: Alleging that vandalism in her school was done in the presence of police, Principal of Christ Church Girls School in Kolkata, Helen Sircar today said she did not resign voluntarily but was forced to do so by the mob which ransacked the institute last Thursday after the death of a Class V student.

"I did not resign on my own. I was forced by the mob and instructed by the police. The situation was so. I also did not want vandalism to continue", she said adding that the students wanted her to be back in the school.

Ms Sircar, principal of Christ Church Girls' High School, also said she was forced to court arrest due to pressure from the police and the mob.

"I had to give in to the police considering the safety of my teaching and non-teaching staff besides the hostel children who were scared," she told reporters in Kolkata.

To a question, the principal said she has called the police and requested them to give protection to the school.

"But vandalism took place in presence of the police," she added.

The school managing committee had not accepted her resignation.

She said she would visit the home of Oindrila Das, a class V student who had died on September 11, days after allegedly being locked up in a toilet for several hours.

Arrested on September 12 in connection with the death of the student, Ms Sircar was released on bail on Monday.

A mob, including parents of some of the students of the school, ransacked the over 100-year-old school on September 12.