In an act of alleged highhandedness a police team assaulted Class 12 students for bursting crackers inside Government Model Higher Secondary School in Varkala, on Monday. The school was on a celebratory mood on the day of its arts festival when a group of students burst crackers inside the school a day after Diwali.

When they refused to return to the class and continued to indulge in merrymaking the school principal called the police. The police made the situation worse when they got into an argument with students and charged baton at them.

Later the six-member team picked up Sudish, a plus two student. He was later dragged out of the school and took him to the police station. They kicked and used baton on him as he was taken into custody. The student later complained that the policemen continued the assault inside the police vehicle and at the station. He was produced before hospital. Police said they used force as the students behaved aggressively. Sudhish is part of the state Kabaddi team which is set for a national meet on November 7.