In a shocking incident from Maharashtra's Thane district, girl students of classes 5 to 10 at a private school were made to strip to check if they were menstruating. 

 

The police have registered a case against eight persons, including the principal and four teachers, according to officials. 

 

The incident took place at the RS Damani school in Shahapur area on Tuesday after bloodstains were found in its toilet, the officials said on Wednesday.

 

The episode sparked outrage among the parents of the girls' students, who protested on the school premises on Wednesday and sought action against the management and teachers involved.

 

According to the complaint, lodged by one of the parents, the girls 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. 

 

They were then asked if any of them were going through their menstrual cycle. 

 

The girls were divided into two groups, and those who said that they were menstruating were asked to give a thumb impression to the teachers. 

 

However, the girls who said they were not going through their periods were taken to the toilet one by one with a woman attendant checking their private parts, as per the complaint, reported PTI. 

 

A case has been registered based on the complaint against the school principal, four teachers, the attendant and two trustees, the police said.

 

Additional Superintendent of Police (Thane rural) Rahul Zalte said the parents of the girls, upon learning about the humiliating act, gathered at the school and demanded action against the teachers involved. 

 

The eight persons have been booked 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.

 

No arrest has been made so far, said senior inspector Mukesh Dhage of the Shahapur police station.