ODISHA: The Headmaster and hostel superintendent of a residential school for SC and ST students under Jeypore block in Odisha's Koraput district were arrested today for negligence after a minor tribal girl of Class VI delivered a child in the hostel.
"They will be produced before the court tomorrow. Further investigation into the case is in progress and details are awaited," said Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO), Jeypore, Rajendra Senapati.
While the headmaster of Umuri Ashram School has been identified as Kailash Charan Brahma, the hostel superintendent was Sabita Guru, police said.
The girl had delivered the child at the hostel campus on February 4, but the matter came to light yesterday evening, police sources said.
Prior to the arrests, the district administration had suspended the teachers.
"The headmaster and the hostel superintendent have been suspended for negligence in duty and police complaint was also lodged," said collector (Koraput) Yamingi Sarangi.
The 12 year-old girl was from a village under Semiliguda block and had joined the school last year.
Soon after the incident, instead of informing the administration, the school authorities sent the girl and the new-born baby to the girl's village, the police said.
Situated at a distance of about 30 km from here with classes from I to VII, the Umuri ashram school has a student strength of 570. While 300 inmates, including 150 girls, stay at the hostel, the rest are day scholars. The school is run by the SC and ST development department of the state government.