Girl Student’s Death In Bhadrak: Rights Activist Petitions OHRC For Inquiry

Bhubaneswar: Expressing grave concern over the death of a girl student in a wall collapse near Binayakpur Primary School premises in Bhadrak district on July 10, human rights activist Pradipta Nayak on Thursday filed a petition before the Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) for a probe into the incident.

Citing negligence by the authorities and teachers of the school, Nayak, in his petition, said, “The girl student identified as Manasi Mallick (8) had left the school premises along with three of her friends, identified as Bibhuti Sundar Mallick (8), Siba Mallick (10) and Jagannath Dash (9), during the school hours and went to a tree to eat blackberry. Suddenly, the wall of a dilapidated kuchcha house collapsed and fell on them leading the death of Manasi. This clearly indicates that the school headmaster and teachers were negligent as the students went out of the class during school hours. Being aware about the fact that the half-broken house nearby the school premises possesses danger to the students, no action was taken by the school authorities to get rid of it as per the circular of School and Mass education department.”

“I feel that the matter is complete violation of the right to life, right to protection, right to education and free movement of children. Therefore, I request the OHRC to direct the principal secretary of school and mass education department and the district collector to submit their inquiry report within three weeks to the Commission, ” he added.