Thane, 10 July

Police arrested the principal and a staffer of a private school in Thane where girl students were allegedly made to strip to check if they were menstruating, officials said on Thursday.

The incident was raised in the Maharashtra assembly, with minister Girish Mahajan informing the House that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has ordered an inquiry and has promised strict action against the guilty.

The incident occurred at the school in Shahapur area of Maharashtra's Thane district on Tuesday after bloodstains were found in its toilet, they said.

It sparked outrage among the girls' parents, who protested on the school premises and sought action against its management and teachers involved in the episode.

Speaking to PTI, Thane Zilla Parishad District Education Office Balasaheb Rakshe said a detailed inquiry has been ordered, which will be helmed by the Block Education Officer.

The BEO has been asked to submit a report based on which the district administration will proceed further in the matter, Rakshe said.

The principal of the school, who has been arrested, was sacked following the unsavoury episode, the official informed.

The police on Wednesday night arrested the school's principal, and a woman attendant who allegedly stripped the students and checked their private parts for menstruation, an official from Shahapur police station said.

As the probe into the case progressed during the day, police said all-out efforts are on to arrest six more accused, including four teachers, for their alleged involvement.

As per the complaint lodged by a parent of one of the students, the girls, studying in classes five to 10, were called to the school's convention hall and shown photos of blood stains in the toilet and floor by screening them through a projector.

The students were asked if anyone from them was going through their menstrual cycle.

The girls were then divided into two groups. All those who said they were menstruating were asked to give their thumb impression to the teachers. But those girls who said they were not experiencing it, were taken to the toilet one by one with a woman attendant checking their private parts, the complaint said.

Based on the complaint, a case was registered on Wednesday against the school's principal, four teachers, the attendant and two trustees, the police said.

When parents learnt about the girls being subjected to this kind of a check, they gathered at the school and demanded action against the teachers involved, Additional Superintendent of Police (Thane rural) Rahul Zalte said on Wednesday.

"The situation turned tense for a while with the irate parents demanding action. The entire incident is being probed," he said.

The case was registered against the eight persons under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 74 (assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 76 (assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe) and provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, he said.

Meanwhile, parents continued to protest out the school, which was closed for the day.

Looking at the widespread anger the incident has caused in the district and beyond, some lawyers said their colleagues are not keen to appear for the two arrested accused.

Speaking on the issue, Congress leader Nana Patole said it was unfortunate that such an incident was taking place in a progressive state like Maharashtra, while NCP (SP) MLA Jitendra Awhad pointed out that the principal allegedly involved was a woman.

Congress MLA Jyoti Gaikwad also sought action against the guilty, while asserting that sanitary napkin vending machines and water facilities are a must in schools.