Earlier this afternoon, students at the Armenian Philanthropic College in Calcutta, under the supervision of the Holy See of Etchmiadzin, were able to get word to Armenia that an emergency situation was in place at the school, despite restrictions placed on the students. During an event at the school, two students, Andranik Gevorgyan and Hayk Poghosyan, got confused and were not able to recite some poetry they had been given to memorize. As punishment, College Director Father Khoren Hovhannisyan stripped the students of their rights for one month. An attempt by senior students to meet with Father Khoren raised his ire. The principal accuses Andranik, a student at the school for eight years with conspiring against him. Father Khoren is said to have given the student twenty minutes to pack his bags and leave for Armenia. Seeing that the student was resisting his commands, the principal called the police who quickly arrived on the scene. The students had closed off the entrance to the school, not allowing them to remove Andranik. We should remind readers that Etchmiadzin is responsible for the students’ status while in India. Students say the rigid disciplinary regime imposed at the school and the attitude of Father Khoren has upset normal conditions at the school. An example of Father Khoren’s unyielding and unacceptable behaviour is how he reacted to Linet Safaryan, a young girl who forgot to bring her text to the last Divine Liturgy and thus was unable to read it. Father Khoren used language that not only insulted the girl but also the other students. As of the last report from the school, two more police cars have arrived and all means of communication have been taken from the students. They were able to get word out to the administration board of the school and the former director Sonya Jon and to local papers. The besieged students were also able to get word to their parents in Armenia. The students say they will continue their struggle to return normalcy to the school. The Holy See at Etchmiadzin has promised to comment on the matter tomorrow.