MANDI BAHAUDDIN, June 18: There was a scene outside the nursing school here on Monday where some teams of TV channels recorded the “release of students held hostage by the administration.”

The district administration and school management, however, described the entire episode as staged one at the behest of an “extortionist and some students facing disciplinary proceedings.”

District Nazim Riaz Asghar Chaudhry and school principal Nazli Saleem said Rana Niaz Ali and his four accomplices, who had stormed the school on Saturday, had tried to bring a bad name to the institution.

They said the city police were now conducting raids to arrest the Niaz and company.

The principal reportedly told police that Niaz, who also introduced himself as a journalist, wanted to extort money by levelling some allegations against her and the school.

“Niaz also wanted to save a student facing disciplinary action on certain charges,” the district nazim told a news conference. He said a three-member committee comprising additional secretary (health), DCO, EDO (health) would probe the matter.