JAGATSINGHPUR: A teacher was suspended and salary of eight others of Raghunathjew Upper Primary School at Khambakhul under Balikuda block was stopped by the School and Mass Education Department on Tuesday for ‘accidentally’ locking up a Class III student, Sradhanjali Das.
Sradhanjali was rescued by local youths three hours after she was locked up in her classroom on Friday. On Saturday, hundreds of villagers staged a demonstration in front of the school and locked its main gate demanding action against the errant teachers.
Assistant Block Education Officer Saraswati Behera pacified the agitators assuring them of action against the teachers responsible for the act.
Sources said in the absence of the headmistress, teachers had locked the school after school hours. Sradhanjali was left alone in the classroom. When she did not return home that day, her family members searched for her when she did not return home on time. In the afternoon, when some youths went to play near the school, they heard her scream from the classroom. They informed her family members, who along with villagers broke the door of the classroom and rescued Sradhanjali.
Collector Satya Kumar Mallick asked the School and Mass Education department to submit a detailed report after inquiry following which, the step was taken.
It was found during investigation that the school headmistress had availed leave on the day and assistant teacher Menka Patnaik was the in-charge headmistress. Patnaik has been suspended.
Block Education Officer Bijayalaxmi Dash said salary of eight other officials of the school has been stopped for dereliction of duty.