Students strip searched in Malda school

MALDA/WEST BENGAL: Five students of a school at Madhabnagar at English Bazar town in Malda district were allegedly strip searched on Monday after theft of a teacher's bag.

Agitated guardians alleged that all students of class seven of the school were strip searched by three teachers after a lady teacher complained that her bag which contained a mobile phone and Rs 2000 in cash was stolen from the common room.

They did not complain to the police fearing that this would jeopardise the future of their wards in the school, guardians said.

The principal of the Badalmoni High School, Tarun Goswami, however, denied the strip search.

The teacher's bag was later found beneath a tree, but the mobile phone and money were not found, Goswami said.

The school authorities and guardians later met to arrive at a settlement.