4 girl students locked in school toilet in Odisha’s Balangir; managing committee chief arrested

Kantabanji: The managing committee president identified as Sadanand Banchhor was arrested today in connection with the alleged locking up of at least four girl students in the toilet of a high school at Buromal under Turekela block and Kantabanji police limits in Balangir district.

According to sources, the victim Class X students were scolded Tuesday afternoon by Sadanand inside the school premises. Getting scared over this, the girls entered into a toilet to save themselves from the wrath of the managing committee president. Later, Sadanand locked them up from outside.

The girls then cried in panic and requested Sadanand to open the door and let them come out. After nearly half an hour, Sadanand opened the toilet door, thereby allowing the Class X students.

Following the bizarre incident, the four girls and their parents lodged an FIR with Kantabanji police late yesterday night, acting on which police arrested Sadanand. On being informed by some locals, Turekela block education officer (BEO) reached the school and took stock of the situation. However, the BEO avoided giving any comments about the weird incident in front of the camera.

Police have arrested Sadanand as per the provisions envisaged in the POCSO Act. He will be forwarded to court later in the day. The girl victims have nothing to get scared of, local SDPO said.