Villagers lock school seeking lady teachers
JAGATSINGHPUR: Villagers have yet again locked the Phulapatana primary school in Balikuda block of Jagatsinghpur district demanding appointment of female teachers in the school. Headmaster of the school Mayadhar Rout was suspended on Monday for allegedly molesting a minor girl student on July 5. Protesting this, villagers had locked the school for a week.
After Rout's suspension, they opened the school on Tuesday but closed it again on Wednesday demanding female teachers in the school. They also staged a demonstration in front of the SP's office demanding arrest of the accused headmaster. They submitted a memorandum in this regard to the SP.
Following the incident, the girl's father had filed an FIR in the local police station but the accused is yet to be arrested.
The 10-year-old girl, a student of Class V, was allegedly molested by Rout on several occasions. On the day of incident, the accused called her to his office and molested her again and this happened in the presence of a lady teacher Runsiha Rani Das.
Villagers came to know about the incident on Sunday and conduced a gram sabha where it was decided that action will be taken against the headmaster.
The accused confessed to the crime and apologised. However, villagers asked him to resign from the post and pay a fine. Rout did not pay heed to the villagers’ demand and went on leave on Monday last.
Subsequently, the girl’s father lodged a complaint at Bandar Marine police station against the accused but he has not been arrested so far. Protesting this, the villagers locked the school and decided not to send their children to the institution till the headmaster is not arrested.
Block Education Officer of Balikuda Susant Mohanty said steps are being taken to appoint two female teachers in the school.