Bokaro, Aug. 8: Hundreds of students of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Tenughat, about 60 km from Bokaro, today pledged in front of the administration to get back to studies, provided action is taken against principal D.K. Modi and some senior teachers, whom they termed as autocrats functioning like “Saddam Hussain”.

The students on Monday noon had gone on a sudden strike, hurling stones on the main campus, breaking windowpanes and glasses of the cars belonging to the teachers, forcing the police to intervene.

The students were protesting against what they called “autocratic and despotic style of functioning of the principal and few other teachers”. They alleged that Modi and the teachers charged the students more for below-standard food, and for various services. They even named two teachers, alleging that their attitude towards girl students were “highly objectionable”.

“Whenever a complaint was lodged in writing to the principal, which were dropped in the complaint box in the office, instead of talking to the teacher the student complaining would be penalised,” said a student.

“Last year the principal issued a transfer certificate to one student — Ripu Sudan — after taking an affidavit from his parents. Later seven students were kicked out from the hostel at midnight. The principal always takes affidavit from a student and even charges a fine of Rs 500 from the poor students for petty matters, which is a way of earning money for selfish gains,” alleged some students.

When asked, Modi refuted the allegations, saying that some miscreants and rowdy students were “trying to spoil the peaceful atmosphere of the institute”. “Discipline is of prime concern for us, but a few students are now trying to spoil it,” the principal said.