The principal of a college in Palash upazila of Narsingdi has been detained allegedly for beating up 16 students of class XII with aluminum pipes, police said on Tuesday.

Amir Hossain Gazi, the principal of Palash Central College, was detained on Monday evening from his residence in Panditpara of the upazila, said Md Elias Mia, officer-in-charge (OC) of Palash police station.

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The students informed that most of the students of science group left the classroom on Sunday on information that the teacher would not come to take the sixth class of the day. But the teacher came to the class and then a small number of students joined the class.

On the following day,  principal Amir Hossain Gazi entered the classroom with an aluminum pipe and beat up around 16 students who remained absent in the previous day’s classs, leaving them seriously injured, alleged the students.

The incident sparked anger among the students and their parents. The students posted photographs of the incident on social media, demanding justice.

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Meanwhile, District Secondary Education Officer Gautam Mitra said a three-member probe committee headed by Upazila Education Officer Milon Krishna Haldar has been formed. “Next step  will be taken as per the report of the committee.”

Principal Amir Hossain Gazi said, "I only brought the students under discipline. Now some people are trying to tarnish my image by making it an issue.”