‘Drunk’ Odisha govt school principal locked inside premises by parents in Nayagarh; rescued by police

Tension erupted at the Pankua Government Primary School under Daspalla police limits in Nayagarh district after the principal was allegedly found drunk on duty and misbehaving with students and parents. Angry locals and guardians locked him inside a classroom before police arrived and rescued him.

According to reports, the headmaster, identified as Ramchandra Pradhan, reached the school late in an intoxicated state on Friday.

Students alleged that he assaulted several of them without provocation and consumed alcohol within the school premises. When parents confronted him over his behaviour, he allegedly abused them using foul language, further fuelling the outrage.

Chaos In School Premises

Sources said that the situation turned chaotic as parents and locals gathered on the campus, accusing the headmaster of repeated misconduct. They claimed that despite previous warnings, Pradhan frequently arrived drunk and disrupted the teaching process.

Students of the school also alleged that during the midday meal, he forced students to eat curry, reportedly contaminated with insects, telling them to eat or go home. The students then narrated their ordeal to their parents, after which the furious guardians locked the principal inside a classroom and called the police.

Officers from Daspalla police station soon reached the spot and rescued the teacher from the angry crowd. He was reportedly taken into custody for questioning.

Headmaster Admits To Drinking

When questioned by local reporters, Ramchandra Pradhan admitted that he had been drinking but downplayed the incident. “I drank a little. If I am suspended, I will do brinjal farming,” he said, defending himself in front of the media.

Guardians have now demanded that Pradhan be immediately removed from the school, stating that they will not send their children back until a new headmaster is appointed.

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Local education officials were contacted for comment, but the Daspalla Block Education Officer (BEO) did not respond to phone calls.