Kerala: Taking cognizance of the complaint filed, police officials on Tuesday arrested five women who forced girl students in Kerala to remove their innerwear in order to appear for the exam.

The women on NEET exam duty held in an educational institute in Kerala were arrested for allegedly asking girl students to remove their innerwear for appearing for the test held on Sunday, police said. Ir added that the arrest was sought after hours-long interrogation.

The arrested include two members of college staff who were present at the NEET exam centre and three of the agency that was entrusted with the security of the centre.

A complaint was filed by a parent alleging that students, including her daughter, were “mentally tortured” even when the dress code by the National Testing Agency (NTA) did not suggest removal of innerwear.The girl’s father claimed that at least 90 per cent of students were asked to remove their innerwear before taking the exam and were asked to dump them in a store room.

An FIR was then registered under sections 354 (Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 509 (Word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the Indian Penal Code.