Girls Allegedly Strip Searched by Teachers in MP Over Theft Charge

Accused of stealing Rs 1,000 by a classmate, no money was ultimately found on the girls.

Two teenage girls of a government school were allegedly made to strip by two woman teachers on suspicion of stealing Rs 1,000 from their classmate in Jobat village of Madhya Pradesh's Alirajpur district, police said on Thursday, 10 January.

However, no money was found on the girls.

Though the alleged incident occurred on 8 January, the girls filed a complaint with the Jobat police station last night, 10 January.

In their complaint, the two girls, both students of class XI, claimed that two teachers strip searched them on Monday. The incident occurred after one of their classmates accused them of stealing Rs 1,000.

Sub-Inspector Shankar Singh Jamra, Jobat Police Station

Quoting the complaint, Jamra said the teachers first frisked the girls manually in the classroom before taking them to an adjacent room where they allegedly made them remove their clothes – but no money was found.

Jamra said the school principal has denied allegations of strip searching.

In his application submitted to the police, Principal Prabhu Pawar refuted the charges levelled by the girls against the teachers.

Jamra said the police are investigating the case from every angle.

"We will file a formal complaint after the probe," the sub-inspector said.

When contacted, the principal said the two girls were subjected only to a general search after a classmate accused them of stealing Rs 1,000.

"However, the charge of strip searching is baseless," he added.

A Times of India report quoting sources said that the teachers were suspended after a separate complaint was lodged with the District Educational Officer. Jamra told TOI that the school's in-charge principal, BP Patel, has filed a complaint against the girls' families.

(With inputs from PTI)

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