Students at the Bahrabisa-based Trishakti Higher Secondary School today smeared soot on the head teacher Mohan Mahat, reportedly for his long absence from school. According to students, the head teacher was absent for the past one month. “It’s been about a month since classes resumed after summer holidays, but he remained absent all these days. This has affected not only us, but ninth and eighth graders as well,” said tenth-grader Gautam Rawal, adding that Science classes had been halted for long. “He came to school today after a long absence. As the students were angry, they stormed his office, brought him out, padlocked his office and smeared soot on his face,” said teacher Dambar Upadhyaya. Ninth grader Riwaj Shah argued that they had no other option. “What else could we do after our frequent pleas to the school management committee to find a teacher to replace him fell on deaf ears?” asked Shah, complaining about the frequent absence of the principal from school. School sources also informed about the apathy of the district education office towards taking action against him even after recommendation from the concerned school management committee. The principal, termed the incident a premeditated act to disgrace him. “In fact, I had informed the school management committee that I was sick and wouldn’t be able to come to school when classes resumed. Whatever was done to me was done purely to disgrace and demoralise me,” he accused.