Two students left a school at Erein in Bhadrak district on Saturday alleging torture.
As per local residents, they saw the minor boy and girl walking on the National Highway in the morning. Both of them were carrying toothbrushes in their hands and were crying. While the boy was a student of class III, the girl studies in class IV, sources said.
When the local people asked them why they are crying and walking alone on the National Highway, they said that they are the students of Aurobindo Integral School at Erein. They alleged that they were regularly being tortured at the school which forced them to leave the school.
“We were regularly beaten up at the school. We are also not given proper food. My parents are in Kolkata. The teachers don’t allow us to talk with our parents over the telephone. We were forced to leave the school,” said a child.
As per the locals, the children had walked five-six kilometers away from the school along the National Highway when they spotted them.
“When we stopped the students and asked them why they are walking alone and crying, they said that they were tortured in the school and they have left the school in anguish. It was dangerous for the children to walk on the Highway as there was a chance of an accident,” said Rupa Sahani, a local resident.
Following the development, local people called Charampa police station and informed them about the incident. Charampa police reached the spot and rescued both children. The guardians of both students have also been informed about the incident.
Some staff of the school have been detained and they are being questioned over the incident. However, the school authorities feigned their ignorance about the torture of the students.
“We were searching for both the students who had left the school this morning. We don’t have any knowledge about the alleged torture of the students in the school. We will look into the incident,” said Sushil Pattnaik, Secretary of the school committee.
After receiving the information, Bhadrak Collector asked District Child Protection Officer (DCPO) to visit the spot and take stock of the situation. An investigation into the incident has also been ordered.