Srinagar: About 50 students at Srinagar's prestigious Burn Hall School have got a hair cut as punishment for being late to school. The school says long-haired boys were singled out for the trim.
Discipline, says the school. Criminal act, say angry students and their parents. "They chopped off my hair. When they were cutting my hair, I resisted and was injured," said one of the students, Omar Ahmad.
The students are supported by their parents. "Beating up children and chopping off their hair is a criminal act," said Shakeel Ahmad, an angry father.
The school principal admitted this happened. "They come late, assembly is not important for them. So they were kept outside for some time and then I called and told them. Those who had long hair - it was trimmed," said the principal, Jey Kumar.
The students are boycotting classes and are demanding action against the school. They have also lodged a police complaint and now allege that the principal is threatening them for doing so.
Police have lodged an FIR against the school authorities. "The students of Class XI and XII alleged they were beaten up and their hair was chopped off. We took cognizance and are investigating the matter," said Aadil Rashid, SHO, Ram Munshi Bagh.