Champua(Keonjhar):  Five days after a Class 10 student died by suicide by jumping from hostel rooftop of a private English Medium school in Champua in Odisha's Keonjhar district, police have arrested four persons of the educational institution in this connection. The accused held were identified as teacher Shashi Shekhar Jha (58), hostel warden Surendra Nath Mishra (52), hostel supervisor Daitari Sahu (45) and administrative officer Prakashan T (48). 

The boy Krishna Pradhan (16), who belonged to Chaibasa in Jharkhand, was studying in Class 10 at Kerala English Medium School in Champua. He was staying in the hostel.

Following his tragic death on July 12, all the four individuals were arrested after a police complaint was filed by the deceased student's father Sudhansu Sekhar Pradhan. In his complaint, Sudhansu had alleged that his son took the extreme step after being subjected to constant physical and mental harrassment by the school authorities.

While case was registered under relevant sections of the BNS, the accused were nabbed after Champua police probed the allegations and reviewed circumstantial evidence. While initially it was unclear whether the student was pushed or jumped on his own, CCTV footage and investigation indicated that it was a case of suicide, they informed.

"The allegations were verified and the four school authorities arrested under section 108/3 (5) of the BNS (abetment of suicide). They were produced in court andf later remanded in judicial custody," official sources said. 

On July 12 morning, Krishna, after attending the morning assembly, went to the hostel rooftop and jumped from the four-storey building. He was rushed to Champua hospital where the doctors declared him dead on arrival.

The incident had triggered outrage among guardians and parents alike, who questioned the wellbeing of students in educational institutions. Chaotic scenes had also unfolded in the hospital and outside school with family members of the student demanding immediate investigation.