All 15 students were found in Canning after one of the students called his mother, who informed the police. The police said the children probably went to

Sealdah and then boarded a train for Canning.

While the parents allege that the children ran away from the school hostel due to the harsh treatment of their hostel warden, the school authorities denied the claim. Principal of the school K Pal Victor said the children were merely hiding on purpose to blackmail the school authorities.

According to the police, the Barrackpore police station received a complaint that 15 students (of Class VIII, IX and X) of Assembly of Christ Church School, Barrackpore, North 24-Parganas, did not return to the hostel after they had gone to play in the school ground.

The police said the complaint was lodged by the children’s parents and added that the students had been demanding the suspension of their hostel warden for allegedly torturing them.

Susmita Sau, mother of Pritam Sau, the student who made the call on Saturday evening, said her son told her they had run away to get relief from the constant beatings. She claimed that had the school authorities listened to the students they would not have taken such a drastic step.