corporal punishment continues in western Orissa

In yet another incident in Bargarh district, police arrested a primary school teacher for allegedly abusing sexually to a 2^nd standard girl student. Police took the step on the complaint of the victim’s parents on Thursday. Police forwarded him to the judicial custody after registering a case against him u/s 354 (outraging modesty of a female) and 509 (insult a woman using word and gesture) IPC on Friday. Villagers demand stringent action against the teacher.

The incident took place in a primary of Nuadihi village under Bhatli police station of Bargarh district, 85 km away from Sambalpur on Tuesday evening. The teacher Somadutta Sahu while inside the class room asked the victim near him and instructed all other students to turn back side. Than the teacher allegedly molest the victim for quite some time before he asked all students to go outside the class room.

It was in the night when victim’s father knew about the incident after victim confides every thing to her mother. On the following the matter was brought before the school management of the village by the victim’s father. But teacher refused to accept the allegation and maintained him ‘not-guilty’

“The issue was raised before the teacher after we got a complaint from the victim’s father. But we were unable to take any step after the teacher pleaded himself innocent” a member of the school management told.

Finding no alternative the victim’s father went to the police station and made a complaint with the police against the teacher on Thursday. “We registered a case basing on the report against the teacher. We arrested him and forwarded him to the judicial custody u/s 354 and 509 IPC”, officer in-charge of the Bhatli police station BC Sahish said

Another incident occurred in Jharsuguda district

In the close heels of Bargarh student death incident, yet another similar incident corporal punishment has occurred in a school in Jharsuguda district’s Lakhanpur block 125 km away from Smabalpur, where at least 2 students have been injured after a teacher who was allegedly inebriated condition, thrashed both inside the school premises two days back. The matter was intimated to the Block Development officer, but local police denied of getting complaint in this regard.

When contacted Lakhanpur BDO admitted of receiving such complaint from the Sarpanch and he immediately directed the school inspector and resource centre coordinator of the block to inquire into the matter and submit a report for further action against the erring teacher.

“I immediately asked the school inspector and resource centre coordinator of the block to get the matter inquired and to submit a report for further action”, the BDO of Lakhanpur block of Jharsuguda district Purnachandra Bhoi told TOI on Saturday. “Action will be taken against the teacher incase we find truth in the complaint made against his”, BDO Bhoi assured.

Sources revealed two class 6^th students of the Kadamdihi UGME School of Lakhanpur block were allegedly injured after they beaten up by the assistance teacher of Purusottam Mirdha on Thursday. The two identified as Akhyay Seth and Surath Pardhia sustained injures on their hands. The teacher was inebriated condition when the incident was taken place. Parents of the injured students brought the matter before the Samaranch of Kadamdihi after they came to know about it in the evening.

“I took the matter seriously and made a complaint before the BDO on Friday who assured me to take action against the erring teacher”, Sarapanch Ramesh Nayak said.

More over the administration has taken the issue seriously as government has already banned corporal punishment in school. “If it is a fact than it is most unfortunate thing happens in my district. Since I came to Bhubaneswar to attend a meeting I do not know much about the incident but I seek a report from the BDO soon I back to head quarters”, collector (Jharsuguda) Dhananjay Dash said.