(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-03-19 21:00

 Unable to get inside the school, scores of masked rioters brandishing swords started to resort to more destructive ways, including kicking and smashing the front gate.

While teaching staff were helping the first and second graders of the junior middle school to evacuate to the playground from the teaching building facing the Ramogia monastery, Principal Degyi called police and fire fighters for help.

The teaching building facing the Ramogia monastery was completely engulfed by flames at 1:10 p.m.. The violent scene set panic among the students who huddled together on the playground, most of whom were shivering, said Degyi.

"The mob didn't show any trace of humanitarian nature, they didn't spare the minors."

When the fire engines eventually reached the school, two teaching buildings, with a combined floor space of 1,660 square meters, plus shops adjacent to one of them, and part of the lab building, were destroyed by the flames.

"Last Friday's unrest has adversely disturbed the order of teaching on our campus," admitted Feng.

Out of safety concern, the students weren't allowed to leave the campus until midday on Sunday.

"We wish a peaceful environment for study can resume as early as possible," said Dawa Soinam and Zhoima Cering, both second graders of the junior middle school.

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