The students were put in police trucks and vans and taken to Nepal Police Club (NPC) where they were interrogated, given counseling and then handed over to their guardians. [break]
A Nepal Army man, who sought anonymity, said he and his family were ashamed to learn through his eighth grader son´s call with his newly bought cell phone that the teenager was detained from the disco.
"He left home earlier than usual on Friday. Asked why he was leaving for school so early, he said he would first visit his sister´s home on the way. I never imagined otherwise until I got his call from the police club seeking help," said the army man, who was in a long queue of parents at the NPC waiting to take custody of their children.
Parents, siblings and representatives of schools and colleges concerned thronged the NPC premises till 5 pm to receive the students while police interrogated them throughout the day.
The police raided the disco following the arrest of Subash Palung, the owner of the club, who had allegedly been benefiting from the ´Bunkers Party´ almost every day. The students, some from well known schools and colleges, would bunk classes and pay Rs 50 each for entry and then indulge in drugs, alcohol and "vulgar" dancing, the police claimed.
- The students were celebrating ´Bunkers Party´ in uniform
- They were freed after interrogation and counseling
- Police say raid was part of their social responsibility
- Police say the students were indulged in drugs, alcohol and ´vulgar´ dance
- Students from over 40 colleges and schools among those detained
SP Ganesh KC, chief of Metropolitan Police Range Kathmandu, said the action was taken as activities at the club were found to have been misguiding the students.
"If they develop the habit of avoiding classes, lying to their parents and going to such places, they are certainly doomed," he said. He also claimed that the detention was meant to make sure that parents and those responsible at schools and colleges come to know that the children are straying. It was also meant to be a lesson to the juveniles, he added. "This is not legal action," he said. "We did it as a part of our responsibility. We released them after offering them counseling."
There were 62 girls among those arrested. Parents were seen reprimanding their children and even lambasting the teachers for not taking proper care of the students.
Among the detained were students from around 40 schools and colleges including some famous ones like Sigma, White House, Campion, Little Angels, Cambridge, Times, Nobel, KIC, BST, Jay Devkota, Prime and Premier.
Likewise, students from BDA College, Patan Campus, Buddha Academy, Man Mohan Memorial College, Lovely Angels, Tarun School, Amar Deep, Gramin College, Scholars´ College, Pushpa Vision, Geetanjali, NR, Kantipur, Public Youth, People´s, Sri Ganesh School, Herald College, Orient, Presidency, Xavier Academy and SS College were also among the detained.
Owners of colleges and schools that myrepublica.com tried to contact were not available for comment.
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