Alluri Sitharama Raju: In a shocking incident at Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) in G.M Kothuru village, located in Alluri Sitharama Raju district of Andhra Pradesh, the school principal allegedly cut the hair of several girl students as punishment for arriving late to school. The incident occurred on November 15 but came to light only on Monday, sparking outrage among parents and locals.

According to reports, around 15 students arrived late for the school prayer on the occasion of 'Karthika Pournami.' The principal reportedly made the girls stand under the sun during the prayer session and later, during the lunch break, allegedly trimmed their hair as a form of punishment. The incident was met with widespread criticism from both the public and the affected families.

In response to the incident, authorities launched an inquiry. On Tuesday, B Srinivasa Rao, State Project Director of Samagra Shiksha, confirmed that the principal, U Sai Prasanna, had been suspended following the inquiry. The investigation, led by the District Educational Officer (DEO) and the Girl Child Development Officer, revealed that the principal had indeed admitted to the action of cutting the students' hair. Consequently, the prima facie allegations were deemed proven, and suspension orders were issued late on Monday.

The suspension has been viewed as a necessary action in response to the disturbing and inappropriate treatment of the students. The incident continues to fuel a broader debate on student discipline methods and the importance of protecting children's rights within the education system.