Alappuzha (Kerala): A case has been registered against the headmistress of an aided school in Haripad, Alappuzha district, for allegedly making casteist remarks against two fourth-grade students and their parents, police said on Wednesday.

The accused, identified as Gracy, is the headmistress of a lower primary school that has only nine students, including the complainants.

According to the parents, Gracy, the only permanent teacher at the school, routinely hurled caste-based slurs at children belonging to backward communities. The school has three other staff members on contract.

“There are only nine students in the LP school. This particular teacher and three other contract employees are the only staff. The majority of students belong to the Scheduled Caste community,” a police officer said.

The parents alleged that Gracy would call the students by their caste names during class and even mock their skin tone. When confronted, she allegedly used casteist language against the parents as well.

A case has been registered under various sections of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, and the Kayamkulam Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) is currently investigating the allegations.