Another ashram school girl in Odisha found pregnant

Baripada: Yet again concerns have been raised over the safety and security of girls in the schools as a Class IX girl student of a residential school under Udala police limits was found pregnant today.

The matter came to fore after the headmaster of the school filed a written complaint at the Udala police station.

"Usually I don't visit the hostel as I am not in-charge of it. I had asked the ANM to visit the school. The minor girl's pregnancy was detected after the ANM examined her," said the headmaster.

Based on the complaint, police have registered a case and initiated a probe into the incident.

Sources said medical examination of the girl was carried out at the Baripada medical college and hospital. However, it is still unclear how and under what circumstances the girl was impregnated.

"Headmaster of the school has filed a written complaint in connection with the pregnancy of the minor girl. On basis of the complaint, a case has been registered and probe is underway," said Swapna Ranjan Mohapatra, a police officer of Kaptipada division.

Two days back, a Class VI girl of an ashram school in Mayurbhanj was found pregnant after she was admitted to hospital. Police had also detained one of her classmates on charges of raping her.

Last month, three minor girls including two inmates of state-run residential schools were found pregnant in different parts of the State. The incidents were reported from Dhenkanal, Kalahandi and Jajpur districts, barely a week after a 14-year-old girl of residential school run by the State's SC and ST development department delivered a baby in her hostel in Daringbadi of Kandhamal district.