29 girls who left residential school hostel in Gajapati rescued

Gajapati: After a 20-hour search operation, 29 girls of Antaraba government residential school in Mohana area of Gajapati district were rescued from a house near Tanglipadar village late Sunday night.

The girls were reportedly missing from the hostel since Saturday night.

The district administration officials and police rescued the girls from a secluded house after tracking the mobile phone of one of the students.

“We found the students in an isolated house near Tanglipadar village in Mohana. After rescuing them, we have housed the students in Chandragiri Government School hostel. An inquiry into the matter is underway by police and district administration,” informed District Welfare Officer (DWO) of Kandhamal, Santosh Rath.

“After detailed investigation, it will be known how they reached near Tanglipadar and who are involved in helping them to leave the hostel,” added Rath.

Meanwhile, the students are being interrogated by the officials to know the exact reason behind leaving the hostel, said the SDPO.

On Saturday, 29 girl students of Antaraba government residential school had left the hostel alleging lack of coordination by teachers over some issues in the school. They had also left a handwritten letter before leaving the hostel.

After the incident came to the fore, school authorities, district welfare officer and police had launched a search operation to find the girls.