Post News Network
Udala, Nov 7: Death of a Class-VII student at Bahubandh school in Kaptipada subdivision of Mayurbhanj district triggered tension Saturday. People saw foul play in the death and staged a road block, demanding investigation and compensation to the bereaved family. The school is run by SC, ST and minority welfare department.
The deceased was identified as Malati Soren, daughter of Sunaram Sorem.
Malati died at the school Friday night. Her father Saturday lodged a complaint with the police that his daughter’s death was not due to natural causes. She was killed by school authorities, he alleged.
Scores of people swarmed the Thana Chhak and blocked the road for hours. They demanded a thorough probe into her death and demanded Rs 10 lakh compensation for the bereaved family.
Sub-collector Prabhat Kumar Mohapatra, district social welfare officer Krupasindhu Naik, tehsildar Bijay Kumar Mallick and Udala IIC Nalita Modi and several others visited the school and took stock of the situation.
During road blockage, people asserted that the student was murdered.
The IIC immediately asked for a sniffer dog squad and a scientific team for a probe. The scientific team started an investigation.
Even as the school staff dub it a natural death, there is a mark on her neck which points to foul play,
sources said.
Police said the exact cause of her death will be known after the post-mortem report. Police detained headmaster Manmohan Mohapatra and a woman staffer in the connection.
The sub-collector said agitators also demanded use of CCTV cameras at TRW schools and hostels. He added that the district collector will be apprised of the demand for Rs 10 lakh compensation for the bereaved family.