Illegally run Odisha school sealed, boarders shifted to Child Line

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Phulbani (Odisha), Sep 4:

The district administration has sealed an illegally run private residential school in Odisha’s Kandhamal district and has handed over 13 boarders to the district Child Line, official sources said today.

“The institution has been sealed and its 13 boarders have been handed over to Kandhamal district Child Line. It was running without due permission from the authorities since 1998 at Rasakua village in Jiangbali gram panchayat under Daringbadi police limits,” said IIC Daringbadi police station, Josobant Hial.

The illegally run residential school came to light after one of its inmates, a minor girl student, allegedly attempted to commit suicide late on Monday night. The minor girl had set herself afire after dousing herself with kerosene over an alleged love affair with the gardener of the school, Hial said.

Following the incident and on directions from the collector, the district social welfare officer (DSWO) Sanghamitra Mohapatra had lodged an FIR in Daringbadi police station on Tuesday, the IIC said.

A joint team comprising of Ms Mohapatra, tehsildar Nimai Sutar, district child protection officer (DCPO) Rashmita Karan and police found after an inquiry that the institution was being run illegally. The team also inquired into the alleged suicide attempt by the girl, Hial said.

“During investigation, we came to learn that the girl had an affair with the gardener of the institution. After coming to learn about the matter, the institution management had removed the gardener from his service. Upset at the turn of events, the girl set herself on fire,” the IIC said.

The IIC said the minor girl was initially admitted to Daringbadi primary health centre and then taken to MKCG Medical College and Hospital, Brahampur and subsequently shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital at Cuttack.

Meanwhile, the founder of the organization has been arrested and investigations are on, Hial said.