DIBRUGARH, Dec 11 � Students of Hitech Computer Point here, who had gone for a picnic to Miao in Arunchal Pradesh along with their teachers were attacked by some local youths of the area, who smashed the headlights, wind shields and made attempts to damage the ASTC bus (AS-20-0872), in which the students were travelling.
Miao is in the Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh and is the gateway to the Namdapha National Park. The Arunachali hoodlums reportedly attacked the bus when the picnic party refused to pay them Rs 5000, which they demanded. Although after prolonged negotiations, the hoodlums managed to extort Rs 2000 from the students, the bus was not allowed to proceed for hours, the teachers and students who reached Dibrugarh at around 1 AM on December 9 night told this newspaper. The picnic team had left for Miao at early dawn on the day.
The youths allowed the bus to proceed towards Assam late in the evening. The teachers and ASTC staff lodged an FIR at the nearby Miao Police Station and sought protection from the police. Miao police swung into action and managed to nab the culprits.
�They were brought to the Police Station along with their parents, where the guardians agreed to pay Rs 7000 as damage cost and another Rs 2000, which the boys had exhorted from the picnic team. The matter was settled and the FIR was withdrawn,� Rajesh Dutta, one of the teachers who accompnied the students said.
Later, the police team arranged another bus and escorted the picnic team out of Arunachal Pradesh. There were altogether 39 students, 2 minors, 4 ASTC bus staff and 2 teachers in the team.
