Kolkata, 03 January (H.S.) :
The authorities of Pei Mei Chinese School, the only Chinese-medium school in Kolkata’s Tangra area, have approached the Calcutta High Court seeking the vacation of its campus by Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel, alleging that prolonged deployment has made it impossible to resume academic activities.
The petition was taken up on Friday by the bench of Justice Krishna Rao, which sought relevant documents from the state government in the matter. The next hearing has been scheduled for January 15.
Following the rape and murder of a junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in August 2024, additional CISF personnel were deployed in the city on the directions of the Supreme Court to strengthen security arrangements. Since then, a contingent of CISF jawans has been stationed at the Pei Mei Chinese School campus in Tangra’s China Para area, using the premises as temporary accommodation.
According to the school authorities, classes at the institution had already been suspended at the time of the CISF deployment. However, with the jawans continuing to occupy the campus for an extended period, the school has been unable to reopen, affecting students’ education for more than a year. The CISF personnel are currently occupying 18 classrooms of the school.
Tangra and the adjoining Topsia area are widely known as Kolkata’s China Town, home to a close-knit Chinese community. Apart from its well-known restaurants, the locality has long been a cultural hub for the community. Pei Mei Chinese School holds special significance as the only Chinese school in the area, and until about a month ago, it also housed the city’s only Chinese-language newspaper, which has since ceased publication.
The school has reportedly remained shut from 2024 through January 2026, raising serious concerns among parents and community members. Seeking relief, the school management has now turned to the High Court, urging intervention so that the CISF personnel can be relocated and normal academic activities can resume.
The matter remains sub judice, with the state government expected to clarify its position in the next hearing.
Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh
