Shimla: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal on Sunday ordered a probe into an alleged case of ragging in the prestigious Lawrence School at Sanawar after seven Class 12 students were sent home for beating up juniors in the school campus last week.

Dhumal said an official team comprising a subdivisional magistrate and a superintendent of police had been sent to the school to inquire into the matter.

"Prima facie, it does not seem to be a case of ragging. It is just a clash among students," he added.

Headmaster Parveen Vashishta told sources on Sunday that it was not a case of ragging, but a "scuffle" between senior and junior students of the school. He refused to confirm if the seven students had been rusticated as reported.

"The matter has been referred to the school governing body and any action in the matter would depend on its decision," he said.

Solan Superintendent of Police S.P.S. Verma said he had received no complaint on the incident.

"There has been no complaint either from school authorities or the students. Action will be initiated as soon as any complaint is received," he maintained.

Headmaster Vashishta said there had been a scuffle between students of Class 11 and 12 on Monday night following which a disciplinary committee was constituted. It found seven students of Class 12 guilty and they were asked to vacate their hostel.

He said the seniors had reportedly told some juniors to shout raucously inside the campus but they refused, which led to an altercation and finally a scuffle.

The Class 12 boys sent back home belong to Punjab, Chandigarh and Delhi, he said.

The residential public school boasts of alumni like Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullaha and actor Sanjay Dutt.

The incident comes nearly two months after a Himachal Pradesh student, Aman Kachru, died as a result of severe ragging by seniors in a medical college in Tanda. IANS