Apu, Nayon Pavel and Emon were lazing about after appearing at the SSC examination from Barisal Government Zila School. The examination ended recently.

On Friday in the evening, they were caught by police from a tea stall near the Barisal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital and huddled in custody. But they did not know their fault.

Apu used to get the second position in merit list at school. Nayon Pavel and Emon are also brilliant students. "I hope Apu will get Grade Point Five (in SSC)", headmaster of the school Namita Sarkhal said talking to this correspondent later.

Teachers of the school and their guardians protested the arrest and harassment.

Apu's father is an employee of SBMCH. The four were gossiping after having tea at a stall near Apu's SBMCH staff quarter.

All of a sudden, a police van stopped in front of the stall. Some policemen came out, caught and whisked them into the van and sped away. Two of them came in bicycles. They requested police to let them inform their fathers to take the bicycles. But the grumpy men in uniform were unmoved.

The four then found themselves inside Barisal Kotwali hajat khana with the many other victims of 'mass arrest" in the city.

Being informed, their guardians went to the Kotawli thana. Nayon was released allegedly after payment of bribe. But the guardians of three others could not satisfy police. Emon's father is dead and Pavel's father is a retired serviceman. Next day (Sunday), Apu, Pavel and Emon were produced before court under Section 34 of CRPC. The magistrate granted them bail till May 2 and ordered them to appear before the court on that day.

The four talked to newsmen after they came out of court on bail on Sunday.

They looked dejected.

"It is unjust, disgraceful", Apu said.

This is a terrible experience for such teenagers, their parents said.

Namita Sarkhal and human rights activists condemned the incident and demanded punishment of the persons responsible for this.

Nurul Alam, officer-in-charge of Barisal Kotwali thana, admitted mass arrests on orders from higher authorities and said the students were taken to custody as suspects.