Baripada: A schoolteacher deployed for enumeration work in Odisha’s Baripada has been reported missing since Saturday morning.
Jyotsnarani Sahu, who was working at UG School at Karanjia in Mayurbhanj district for the past eight years, left home at around 7 am for her regular duty before proceeding with census-related assignments. Her family members grew increasingly alarmed after she became unreachable.
According to her brother, a native of Puri who has stayed up at Baripada, the last conversation with Jyotsnarani occurred around 11:36 am on Saturday, during which she confirmed she was engaged in census duty. Subsequent attempts by family members, including her sister, to reach her went unanswered, heightening fears for her safety.
He further alleged prolonged workplace harassment, claiming it may have contributed to her stress. Her brother stated that the school headmaster had been harassing her since last year, allegedly denying leave even in medical emergencies. They have demanded strict action against those responsible.
A relative described the family’s frantic efforts: “Her sister first called her, but the phone was switched off. Then we informed others and tried calling her multiple times, but there was no response.”
The teacher’s family and also her house owner have lodged missing complaints with Sadar police, who visited her rented accommodation as a part of a probe. Her phone is also been tracked to ascertain her last location.
Police sources added that Jyotsnarani left the enumeration work midday, informing her colleagues that she will be back in an hour.
This case comes at a time when field workers, including teachers, are heavily involved in the intensive house-listing phase of Census 2027, which began in parts of Odisha in mid-April.
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