Villagers lock-up school, BEO's office over lack of teachers

Sonepur: Demanding appointment of teachers at the Nodal Upper Primary School, residents of Bankighirdi village in Binika block of Sonepur district today locked up the office of the Block Education Officer (BEO). The school has also been locked up for the last three days by the villagers as a mark of protest forcing the students and teachers to sit outside the school premises.

Earlier on February 26, the BEO had promised to resolve the issue. However, alleging that the assurances have not been kept, villagers decided to launch protests. As a part of the protest, villagers locked up BEO's office today and went to meet him at his residence to apprise him about their demands. However, the villagers were disappointed as the BEO was allegedly not present in his residence.

“The BEO had promised to resolve the issue of teachers at the school but failed to do so. We have locked up the school and BEO's office. We will take our protest to the Collector's office and other concerned authorities if our demands are not fulfilled,” said Hemlata Bagh, a resident of Bankighirdi.

Meanwhile, the Additional BEO refused to comment on the ongoing protests, while the BEO was not available.