Kolkata girls' school vandalised at night; CCTV captures gate breach
Synopsis
Surveillance cameras caught a group of youths scaling the gate of Kamala Chatterjee Girls' High School in south Kolkata at 4.30 am on 23 May and vandalising the premises — a rented building used for primary and secondary classes. With no arrests yet and the education department now involved, the incident has put overnight school security in West Bengal under the spotlight.
Key Takeaways
A group of youths allegedly scaled the gate of Kamala Chatterjee Girls' High School , south Kolkata , at around 4.30 am on 23 May 2025 .
The vandalism targeted a rented building used for primary and secondary classes, not the school's own premises.
CCTV footage captured the intruders breaching the gate; a complaint has been filed with Gariahat Police Station and the District School Inspector .
Headmistress Debjani Das confirmed the damage and the filing of the complaint on her arrival that morning.
The District School Education Department has taken serious note and is expected to meet the headmistress on Monday before deciding on further action.
No arrests have been reported as of the time of writing.
A group of youths allegedly broke into Kamala Chatterjee Girls' High School in south Kolkata in the early hours of Saturday, 23 May, going on a rampage inside the premises before dawn and triggering a police investigation under Gariahat Police Station. The incident, captured on the school's surveillance cameras, has raised fresh concerns about the security of educational institutions in the city.
How the Break-In Unfolded
According to school authorities, the intruders scaled the main gate of the school at approximately 4.30 am to gain unauthorised entry. CCTV footage reportedly shows a group of youths climbing over the gate before proceeding to vandalise the building. The targeted structure is a rented premise used to conduct classes for both primary and secondary sections — distinct from the school's own building.
What the Headmistress Said
School Headmistress Debjani Das described the scene she encountered on arrival. 'When I arrived at the school in the morning today, I saw that everything had been damaged. Everything was recorded on the CCTV camera. A complaint has been filed with the police as well as the district school inspector,' she said. The complaint has been formally lodged with both law enforcement and the District School Inspector.
Education Department Takes Note
According to sources in the District School Education Department, the incident is being viewed with considerable seriousness. Officials are expected to hold a discussion with Headmistress Das on the following Monday before deciding on the next legal and administrative course of action. The department, sources said, was alerted shortly after the news broke and has since been monitoring the situation closely.
Security Questions for Kolkata Schools
The vandalism at Kamala Chatterjee Girls' High School is not an isolated concern — it arrives at a time when the adequacy of overnight security at government-aided schools across West Bengal is under scrutiny. The fact that the intruders were able to scale the main gate of an operational school unimpeded, and cause damage over an extended period before anyone intervened, points to gaps in both physical security and real-time monitoring. Authorities are yet to announce any arrests in connection with the incident.
A final decision on legal and administrative action is expected after the department's meeting with the school's headmistress early next week.
Point of View
And this episode underscores that surveillance infrastructure without a response protocol is largely symbolic. The education department's decision to wait until Monday before acting, rather than deploying an inspection team the same day, also signals a reactive rather than preventive administrative culture. If the department is serious about school safety, the outcome of this case needs to set a precedent, not just generate a report.
NationPress
8 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Which school was vandalised in Kolkata on 23 May 2025?
Kamala Chatterjee Girls' High School in south Kolkata, under the jurisdiction of Gariahat Police Station, was vandalised in the early hours of Saturday, 23 May 2025. A group of youths allegedly scaled the main gate and damaged the premises around 4.30 am.
Was anyone arrested for the Kolkata school vandalism?
No arrests have been reported as of the time of writing. Police have initiated an investigation following a complaint filed by the school. The CCTV footage is expected to assist in identifying the accused.
What did the CCTV footage show?
The surveillance cameras at Kamala Chatterjee Girls' High School recorded a group of youths scaling the main gate in the early hours of Saturday to gain entry. The footage subsequently captured the vandalism inside the building.
What has the education department said about the incident?
Sources in the District School Education Department said the matter is being treated with seriousness. A discussion with Headmistress Debjani Das is planned for the following Monday, after which a decision on legal and administrative action will be taken.
Which part of the school was targeted?
The vandalism was confined to a rented building used by the school for its primary and secondary sections, according to school authorities. This building is separate from the school's own premises.
