Baripada: Tension prevailed at government-run Panchapali Residential High School after angry villagers thrashed the headmaster and a peon for allegedly harassing tribal girl students in Mayurbhanj district Monday.
The incident comes in the wake of the shutdown of a shelter home in Dhenkanal following allegations of sexual harassment of its minor inmates.
Hundred of villagers entered the school premises and detained the headmaster and the peon. They beat up the duo mercilessly before locking them inside the school. A police team arrived at the village and brought the situation under control.
According to sources, the HM and the peon ran the 100-bed residential school at Hatipatuka under Betanoti block. They often played truancy and did not take care for the students. Instead, they made the students do their personal chores and inflicted mental and physical torture on them when they refused to abide by their rules.
Moreover, they called the girls and made them clean their clothes and bedroom. Some students accused the headmaster of touching them inappropriately. The students also claimed that substandard quality food was served to them.
“Most of the days, we get a small quantity of rice and watery dal. While there is provision for chicken and eggs twice a week, the headmaster doesn’t provide us nutritious food,” a student said.
The headmaster, who has refuted the allegations, and the peon have been detained by the police for interrogation.
Meanwhile, scores of locals blocked the Baisinga-Manatri road demanding action against the duo. They burnt tyres and placed huge stones on the road.
PNN
