Girls accuse teachers of stripping them

ABOHAR: Schoolgirls in a village of Punjab's Ferozepur district have accused two of their female teachers of frisking them by making them strip their uniforms in their classroom.

Some 15 students of Class VII of the Government Middle School in Kundal village of Abohar tehsil alleged that their female teachers ordered them to take off their clothes in the classroom on Wednesday in order to find the girl who had allegedly dumped a used sanitary pad in the toilet.The two teachers allegedly made four Class VIII students strip their juniors to check which students had her periods so that the culprit who had allegedly thrown used sanitary napkins in the toilet.

Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh has ordered an inquiry and also immediate transfer of two teachers prima facie involved in the incident, pending inquiry. Education secretary Krishan Kumar has been directed to complete an investigation into the incident by Monday and take appropriate action.

The Fazilka district education officer was asked to visit the school and on questioning the students and their parents, found two teachers were allegedly involved in the matter.

Abohar teacher asked not to join school till probe ends

Abohar sub-divisional magistrate Poonam Singh also visited the school to probe the matter on Saturday after parents of the affected schoolgirls complained to the local administration.

The students, who were in a state of shock, reported the matter to their parents who informed the school principal on Thursday, but she did not respond.

SDM Poonam Singh found that the concerned teacher has not been attending school for the last two days. Taking cognizance of the matter, the SDM reported the matter to the Fazilka deputy commissioner, who set up a committee comprising of DEO Kulwant Singh, school principal Bindu Arora and CDPO Geeta Rani, to probe the matter.

Principal Arora recorded the statement of the affected students and their parents.

SDM Poonam Singh condemned the incident and described it as very serious and shameful. “The responsible school teacher has been asked not to join school till the completion of probe by the committee,” the SDM said. In case the committee found the concerned teacher responsible, she said, stern action would be taken.