Earlier in the day, families of the missing girls staged a protest before the Dasmantpur police station alleging ‘kidnapping’ of the girls and demanded immediate action by the police.
As per reports, a group of seven girls from Sevashram School in Parajabedapadar area of the block, had gone out of their hostel to answer natures call.
“We have no toilets in our hostel and usually go outdoors at night to relieve ourselves,” said one of the girls.
“Suddenly some miscreants flashed lights on us. While some of us screamed and ran helter-skelter, others including the three girls ( two from class 6 and one from class 9 ) fell unconscious,” the girl informed.
When the students regained their consciousness after sometime, they found the three girls missing from the spot.
The hostel authorities informed the matter to police and filed an FIR following which a search operation was launched to trace the girls.
“Investigation is on and after recording statements of abducted students only further details can be known,” said Ashok Kumar Mohapatra, IIC, Dasamantpur police station.
As per sources, the matron of the hostel had gone to market at around 6 pm in the evening. When she returned, she found that three girls from Balibada village and one each from Gendrakhala, Dolamba, Lakhari, Bhaliagauni and Raghunathpur village were missing.
However, the matron did not have any clue about their whereabouts. When the hostel authorities were finally confirmed about their disappearance, they started searching in the nearby areas.
Finally the eight girls were rescued and brought back to school this morning. Asked, the students alleged that it was the matron’s behavior and nagging that drove them to take the step.
One of the rescued students said, “The matron yells at us every day and it’s intolerable. She hardly gives us time to finish our chores. A hostel which accommodates 110 students, it is hard to finish off all works on time because there is always a rush.”
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Mohana WEO Simanchal Behera said, “The girl students have been rescued and we are having a discussion with them. They are blaming the matron for this. The girls complained that the matron used to yell at them regularly. We will hold a meeting with the school committee along with students to discuss the problems they face in the hostel.”
Around 50 girls of Bhatrasauni tribal school today walked a stretch of 12 kms to reach the office of Collector. They took the step after their repeated complaints over shortage of faculty members fell into deaf ears of administration.
However, they failed to meet the Collector as he was absent and discussed their problems with the District Welfare Officer.
A day ago, over 100 students of Morada Patapur government high school in Mayurbhanj district walked 13 kms to lodge complaint before the Collector against school headmaster and a teacher. Taking cognizance of their grievances, the Collector immediately suspended the headmaster and an assistant teacher for dereliction of duty and ordered for departmental proceeding against them.
The incident came to light only after the victims lodged a complaint with Soro police.
As per reports, the accused Sashadhar Disa, a resident of Manatri village in Soro and a tractor driver, took the two tribal women to the forest and made them to consume alcohol forcibly. When one of them denied, Disa hit her on the head. Later, he allegedly raped the duo and threw them on road and fled.
One of the victims tried to commit suicide by consuming poison and was admitted to Soro hospital.
Meanwhile, the duo lodged a complaint following which police have started investigation into the incident. "We have sent the two women for medical tests. Efforts are on to nab the accused," said Inspector-In-Charge of Soro PS Kartik Chandra Mallik.
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