An illegally-run private residential school has been sealed in Kandhamal district and 13 boarders have been handed over to the district Childline, sources said on Thursday.
The institution was running without permission from the authorities since 1998 at Rasakua in Jiangbali gram panchayat under the Daringbadi police limits. The illegality of the institution had come to fore after an alleged suicide attempt of an inmate on Monday. The minor girl had set herself on fire after pouring kerosene over an alleged love affair with an employee of the institution. Acting on the directive of the district Collector, District Social Welfare Officer Sanghamitra Mohapatra had lodged an FIR on Tuesday. A joint inquiry conducted by Mohapatra, tehsildar Nimai Sutar, District Child Protection Officer Rashmita Karan and police revealed that the institution was running illegally. “We came to learn that the girl had an affair with the gardener of the institution. The institution management had ousted him. Upset at the turn of events, the girl set herself afire,” the Daringbadi PS IIC said. The victim is recuperating in hospital now.