The Progressive Organisation of Women (POW) on Monday staged a protest near the Gandhi statue in Visakhapatnam, condemning the attack on a Class X girl with an electric saw in a classroom of a Zilla Parishad high school at Raptadu in Anantapur district, and demanded stringent punishment for the accused.

Addressing the gathering, POW State president M. Lakshmi called for better medical care for the injured students, State support to their families, a thorough investigation, and a fast-track court.

She also demanded safety committees in all educational institutions, a mechanism for students to report grievances without fear, curbs on liquor, ganja, and narcotics, and implementation of the Justice Verma Committee’s recommendations.

POW district president S. Venkatalakshmi presided.