Imphal, September 13, 2010: Don Bosco School Sangakpham, has decided to close the school for two days fearing an attack by extortionists when teachers and school authority were unable to meet extortion demands served upon them.

The school has been receiving threats for not paying monetary demands allegedly made by from KCP (Malemnganba) group through mobile phones.

A phone call from the group, on September 3, asked teachers of the school to pay Rs 3000 each as "one time tax" for the current year.

The caller also set a deadline on September 10 which has since expired.

On September 6, students and teachers of the private school staged a sit-in protest at the school premises denouncing the imposition of heavy monetary demands to the teachers, who are paid only a meager salaries and appealed for a withdraw of the demand.

Paying no heed to the appeal of the teachers and students, the group insisted that the teachers to pay the demanded amount.

The headmaster of the school was served threats on September 10 and 12 through strongly worded SMS with warnings to attack the school.

Since then, fear and panic has prevailed among the teachers and students which in turn has disturbed the academic atmosphere, students and teachers revealed.

Owing to the prevailing tension, school authority, from security point of view, declared a closure of the school for two days after a sit-in protest was first carried out at the school premises today.

Womenfolk of the surrounding area of the school also took part in the protest staged by the students and teachers showing solidarity to the appeal made by the school to withdraw the demand.

The school authority declared the two day holiday to prevent any untoward incident to the teachers and students in case militants attack with bombs and guns.

Fearful teachers, have been, unable to take classes properly in the last few days.

It is pertinent to mention that of late there have instances of extortionists being nabbed by students in two schools in Imphal area, Johnston Higher Secondary School, BT Road and Ananda Singh Higher Secondary School, Old Checkon, when teachers were threatened by extortionists.

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