According to a complaint filed by the parents of the victims, the students of Kasturba Gandhi Residential School at Digri village were forced to strip by the principal on Thursday.
The principal allegedly threatened the students of dire consequences if they disobeyed her command, District Primary Education Officer Chander Kesh Yadav said.
An inquiry has been ordered, he said.
“There was no teacher around. We were called downstairs (from the hostel). Madam made us take off our clothes saying she will beat us if we did not. We are kids, what could we do? She would have beaten us if we did not obey her,” one of the students said.
The principal, however, has denied the allegations.
“No one asked them to remove clothes. All this is a conspiracy by the staff because they do not want me to stay here. I had been asked to check whether the staffers were performing their duties. I am strict, that is why they hate me,” she said.
Meanwhile, 35 out of the total 65 students of the school left after the reports of harassment by the principal surfaced.
Many students have come forward with similar allegation, Yadav said, adding the matter is being probed.
With inputs from ANI
Image for representation only.