Cuttack, May 10: Nursing students of SCB Medical College and Hospital on Tuesday launched an indefinite cease work against the alleged ill-treatment and casteist remarks made by the principal against one of their classmates.

The cease work by nursing students is likely to affect medical services, particularly during night hours, at the hospital as they assist regular and contractual nurses.

Over 300 nursing students of the college today took out a rally to protest against the alleged incident involving an intern and the principal Kajolrani Sinha on May 7.

The students have submitted a memorandum to the superintendent of SCB Medical College and Hospital demanding immediate transfer and action against Sinha. Despite attempts, the principal of the college could not be contacted for comments.

"I was getting late for ward duty and in a hurry I could not tie my hair in accordance with the prescribed norm. The principal came from behind and slapped me twice at around 2pm on May 7," said the victim student.

She also accused the principal of regularly making derogatory remarks against them and on Saturday she had reacted without any reason.

"It is not for the first time that our principal has misbehaved with students. She has been constantly harassing us for the last four months without any reason," said Smita Sahu, another student.

The students alleged that the college authorities did not pay any attention to the problems faced by them.

The students said that it was more than a month that they did not get their revised stipend of Rs 1,500 and Rs 1,500 as dress allowance. The state government had increased the monthly stipend and dress allowance after the students had staged a demonstration last year. SCB officials, however, claimed that the cease work would not have any impact on the hospital's medical services.