Post News Network
Malkangiri, March 14: In yet another shameful act that came to light Saturday, a Class-IX girl, studying in an SC, ST development department-run school in Malkangiri district, was found six-month pregnant.
The girl, a native of Kacheli village, studied in Pedakonda Upgraded High School under Malkangiri sadar block. The administration has suspended the superintendent of the hostel where the girl stayed. The district welfare department runs the hostel.
Sources said hostel superintendent Sabitarani Sarkar knew about the pregnancy February 20.
The girl told her that she had an affair with a +2 student of the village which she developed when she visited the village during Dussehra last year.
After coming to know about the matter, the superintendent took the girl to her village February 21 and handed her over to her family. Later, she informed the school headmaster, block education officer and district education officer about this.
Both BEO and DEO went to the girl’s village and conducted an inquiry into the matter. However, the department did not take any action over the issue let alone lodging a complaint with the police.
Police came to know about the matter Saturday and started a probe. Police called the girl, her lover, family members, school staff, BEO and DEO to the police station and quizzed them.
During interrogation, both the girl and her lover confessed to their physical relationship. Both were sent for medical examination.
The administration Saturday suspended Sarkar for dereliction of duty. Collector Prashant Kumar Reddy issued a direction to officials to initiate disciplinary action against the school headmaster.
Continued on P-5