Bhubaneswar, Sept. 4: Students of a city college today took to the streets demanding action against a teacher accused of slapping a girl.

Rekha Das, a zoology lecturer at the government-run Rajdhani College, allegedly slapped Plus Two student Sashmita Sarangi for the latter’s failure to produce her identity card when asked for it two days ago. In protest, students today blocked the busy National Highway 5 in front of the institute.

On Saturday, the zoology teacher asked Sashmita to show her ID card. Classes had been called off and the teacher wanted to find out what Sashmita was still doing on the campus.

“She asked me for my identity card which I did not carry to college that day. She then slapped me so hard that my lips bled,” the girl alleged. There was, however, no reaction as most of the students had left college by then.

The college reopened today and the students wasted little time to register their protest.

The students squatted on NH 5 and demanded that Das be transferred.

College authorities and a team from nearby Khandagiri police station reached the spot and tried to pacify the students. A compromise was reached after college principal S.K. Panda said he would look into the matter. The students returned to their classes after the assurance.

Explaining her position, the teacher said: “While two other girls showed me their identity cards, Sashmita tried to run away. I tried to stop her by holding her chunri. But there was no assault.” Das said was ready for any probe by the college authorities.