Cuttack, May 14: Students of the College of Nursing at SCB Medical College and Hospital today submitted a memorandum to the district collector demanding revocation of order that had closed the institute indefintely.

Some 300 students and 95 interns have been on an indefinite strike since May 10, demanding transfer and action against the institute's principal. The students accused her of passing casteist remarks and slapping a fellow student.

Talks among health department officials, nursing directorate and the striking students proved futile to end the deadlock, forcing the government to close the college for indefinite period on Thursday night and ask the students to vacate the SCB campus by next morning.

"The order was unwarranted as the agitation was ongoing peacefully and the striking students had not created any disturbance on the campus," said Subhadra Murmu, a nursing student. Murmu met Cuttack collector Nirmal Chandra Mishra today along with other students.

"The collector has received our memorandum and assured us of doing the needful. If nothing follows immediately, we will take our demand to the revenue divisional commissioner and also the health minister," Murmu said, adding that they have demanded suspension of the principal".

SCB superintendent Pratap Rath said: "There is very little that can be done by us to break the deadlock as the nursing directorate is the appropriate authority to deal with the demand."

"An internal committee formed to probe the allegations had submitted a confidential report. It has been submitted to the government for appropriate action," he said.

Principal Kajolrani Sinha was not available for comments. Sinha allegedly slapped a student, who was doing her internship on May 7 as she had not tied her hair according to the prescribed norm during duty in the hospital ward. Sinha had also allegedly passed casteist remarks at her.

The students lodged a complaint at Manglabag police station on Wednesday. Based on the complaint, the police had registered a case . "Inquiry into the complaint has already started," said Manglabag police station inspector-in-charge A.K. Swain.

Today, the students lodged another complaint at the police station. "We are examining the nature of the complaint. Appropriate action will follow," Swain said.