Kandhamal tribal girl death: Contractor used to spend the night at school, allege family members

G.Udayagiri: Days after the death of a Class 7 tribal girl within 24 hours of giving birth sparked public outrage in G.Udayagiri block of Kandhamal district in Odisha, family members of the deceased have alleged involvement of a contractor who was engaged in repair works of the residential school where the latter was studying. While the hostel warden was suspended and show cause notice issued to three others including the headmaster, the girl’s parents have brought to the SP’s notice that the contractor, who reportedly has political links, used to spend the night in the school building along with other workers, while accusing him of keeping physical relations with their daughter.

This information may prove crucial in probing their daughter’s pregnancy and subsequent death, they shared, adding that they hope the contractor too will be brought under the purview of the  investigation. The role of a village youth along with some school staff and teachers is also being suspected, sources said.

While school authorities have claimed that the girl got pregnant when she had gone home for holidays, Belghar IIC Dipak Rout said the boy who is suspected to have impregnated the girl used to have physical relation with her a year back and has been sent to a rehabilitation home. This leads to greater suspicion regarding the minor’s eight month pregnancy and further details will emerge only after a proper investigation, he added.