15 students flee primary school hostel in Odisha’s Sundargarh citing punishment, no meal

Giving the slip to authorities, fifteen students of Sihidia Government Upper Primary School under Mahulpada police station limits of Sundargarh district fled from their school hostel under the cover of darkness on Tuesday.

As per reports, the students, all boys from upper primary classes (Classes 5 to 8), ran away from the hostel at about 11:30 pm last night. They were subsequently traced and held in an area of Barkote in Deogarh district this morning.

Sources added that the students alleged being yelled at and beaten by the hostel authorities. They also claimed that they were not served meals regularly and added that these conditions forced them to flee the premises.

Shockingly, sources also mentioned that this incident marked the third time that the students took such a step. Moreover, they were also said to be in a fearful and panic state when found and many have yet to say anything, possibly fearing action by hostel authorities.

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Curiously, hostel staff denied having any clue of the students fleeing away in the dead of the night. Further, they maintained that there was no unduly punishment or delays in regular meals. 

“Our security officer was present in the hostel but he did not hear any commotion. The students said that they were not feeling well and hence decided to flee the hostel,” said Premananda Patra, an assistant teacher at the school.

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Till the last reports came in, the students were being held at Barkote police station, situated about 30 kilometres from the school. Meanwhile, police launched an investigation into the matter but did not offer any comments regarding it.