KENDRAPARA: A 19-year-old Dalit girl undergoing training at Auxiliary Nurse Midwife Training Centre in the Government Hospital here attempted to commit suicide by taking an overdose of tablets meant for treatment of fever in her hostel room on Monday. However, she was rushed to the hospital by her friends in time.
The girl Padmini Sethi’s uncle Ranjan Kumar Sethi alleged that she tried to end her life after being mentally and physically tortured by the principal of the training centre, Basantilata Panda. Ranjan filed an FIR at Kendrapara Town police station in this regard.
A native of Kalashreegopalpur village in Jajpur district, Padmini had come to Kendrapara last year to pursue nursing training. Talking to this paper, she said, “For the last one year, I have been physically and mentally tortured by the principal and some students. On Monday morning, the principal told me to wash all the dishes before going to the classroom but I refused. Later, they abused me for which I tried to end my life.”
The principal of the training centre refuted the allegations. IIC of Kendrapara Town police station confirmed that a case had been filed.