Umarkot: A girl student of Batibeda Government Ashram School in Nabarangpur district was found hanging from a tree near the school campus, police said Sunday. The deceased was identified as Jaba Santa, 14, a resident of Daldali village in Umarkot block.
According to officials, she allegedly scaled the hostel boundary wall Saturday night and was later found hanging from a tree using her scarf about one kilometre from the school.
The exact cause of death has not yet been established.
Family members staged a protest outside the school, keeping the body at the site for more than three hours, demanding an impartial investigation, strict action against those responsible and compensation.
The protest ended after District Welfare Officer Palaka Rabindra assured the family members that a committee headed by the District Collector would investigate the incident.
He also said the state government would provide Rs 2 lakh in compensation and that action would be taken if negligence or wrongdoing is established. According to school authorities, three girls were absent during dinner Saturday night.
Two were located shortly afterwards, while Jaba reportedly went missing after leaving the campus. A search led to the discovery of her body hanging from a nearby tree.
The school authorities informed her family, who later lodged a complaint with Umarkot police.
Police recovered the body Sunday morning and launched an investigation. Family members of the deceased girl student staged a sit-in with the body, demanding Rs10 lakh in compensation and strict action against those responsible for her death.
Leaders of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Congress joined the protest in support of the family’s demands.
Former BJD MP Ramesh Chandra Majhi and BJD block president Sushila Majhi were present, while Congress district president Lipika Majhi, Sanaraj Gand and Muna Padhi, along with several party workers, also attended.
Ashok Kumar Padhi, a representative of the School and Mass Education minister, and local BJP leaders Soumyaranjan Ray and Lambodar Pandey held discussions with the bereaved family members following which the protest was withdrawn.
The girl’s body was later sent for post-mortem at the sub-divisional hospital before the last rites were performed in her native village.
Tehsildar Meghaban Bag, Additional Tehsildar Mausumi Sajjan, SDPO Subhendu Sabar and Cyber Police Station IIC Bipin Kumar Bag were present there.
Police registered an unnatural death case (61/26) at Umarkot Police Station and said the investigation is underway. Offi cials said the exact cause of death will be determined after the investigation is completed.
