Baripada: Taking immediate cognizance of students’ grievances, Mayurbhanj Collector today placed headmaster and an assistant teacher of Morada Patapur Girls’ High School under suspension for dereliction of duty and on charges of torturing the students mentally.
The action came immediately after hundreds of students met the Collector by walking 15 kms and apprised him of their problem. The Collector also accompanied them to the school to check ground reality.
"I received information at around 11.30 and interacted with the students at 12.30 pm at the school. They alleged that headmaster Rajeev Mahanta beats them and misbehave with them. Another teacher Sushant Das has also allegedly misbehaved with the guardians. After prima facie investigation, they were suspended and departmental proceeding will be initiated against them soon," Collector Surendra Kumar Meena said.
However, an uneasy calm prevailed on the school premises after villagers locked the school gate as they were not allowed to meet him. Later, police reached the spot and opened the gate.
On the other hand, headmaster Rajeev Mahanta refuted the allegations levelled against him. "These are false and baseless allegations. Some hooligans had entered the school campus during Ganesh Puja and demanded donation. As I resisted them, they have instigated the students against me," Mahanta said.
In a unique form of protest, as many as 256 students of Girls’ School took up a mission and walked 15 km to meet the Collector and apprise him of their problems in the morning today.
Though former minister Sudam Marandi reportedly reached the school, the students did not want to speak to him.
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The girls were seen crying throughout their walk, but they denied speaking up about the problem stating that they would put forth their grievances only before the collector. Though the girls were tight lipped about anything particular, onlookers stated something serious bothering the students.
It is worth mentioning that 2-3 months ago some boys had entered the girls’ hostel following which the school authority lodged a complaint with the police. Surprisingly, the police have not yet arrested anyone in this connection.