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Tribal students, parents block road

Staff Reporter

Accuse police of trying to frame-up former school headmaster

BERHAMPUR: Daringbadi in Kandhamal district was tense on Friday following an agitation by tribal students of the local residential high school for girls and their parents.

They blocked the Daringbadi-Brahmanigaon road and laid siege to the tehsil office till evening.

Additional District Magistrate of Kandhamal district Suresh Chandra Suar, along with the Superintendent of Police, had to rush to the spot to hold discussions with the agitators.

The agitation had the support of a tribal organisation Lok Sangram Manch. Its leaders Raghunath Padhi and Tapan Mishra led the protest in support of the suspended in-charge headmaster of the school Devraj Sahu, who was absconding to avoid arrest.

The protesters alleged that Sahu was framed and demeaned by the police and administrative officials.

It may be recalled that on March 23, the police had to intervene to allow a new headmaster take charge.

The students opposed the new appointment and wanted Sahu to continue. This led to unruly scenes and the school had to be closed down.

The police later recovered some pornographic materials and condoms from the room of Sahu on the school campus.

`Victim of detractors'

The protesters, however, believe, that Sahu was implicated. Sunita Pradhan and her father Kasinath Pradhan alleged that the police were trying to frame-up Sahu. They alleged that on March 23 some miscreants misbehaved with the girls and the police were yet to arrest them.

They further said that Sahu was a victim of his detractors.

"The fact is that not a single girl of the school has spoken against the character and nature of Sahu," Mr. Pradhan said.

The protesters sought legal action against police and administrative officials who, they alleged, damaged the image of the school and its former headmaster.

They relented only after Mr. Suar promised to inquire into the matter and take action within one week.

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