7 Girl Students Fall Unconscious After Being ‘Forced To Do Squats’ In Odisha, Probe Ordered

Bhubaneswar: The School and Mass Education (S&ME) Minister Sameer Dash on Monday ordered a probe into the alleged punishment meted out to seven girl students of Bapuji High School in Patnagarh area of Odisha’s Balangir district.

Dash informed the media that Patnagarh Community Education Officer Shankar Prasad Majhi has been directed to carry out the probe.

The girls reportedly fell unconscious after being made to do sit-ups as punishment by a teacher for allegedly reaching late for the prayer session. They were then admitted to the Patnagarh Hospital. “The girls were not in good condition when they were brought to the hospital. After preliminary treatment, their health is stable,” said Patnagarh Sub-Divisional Medical Officer Pitabash Sha.

Notably, the Odisha government had made schools punishment-free zones in 2010 following reports that an 11-year-old student died after he was beaten by his teacher in Bargarh district.

Majhi said that schools have been declared punishment-free as per the guidelines of the state government and if any teacher or school staff is found pushing the students, necessary action will be taken as per the law.