Champua, Jul 18: Police have arrested four individuals associated with a private English medium school in Champua, Keonjhar district, five days after a Class X student died by suicide by jumping from the hostel rooftop. The tragic incident, which occurred on July 12, has sparked outrage and questions about student well-being in educational institutions.
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The arrested individuals have been identified as teacher Shashi Shekhar Jha (58), hostel warden Surendra Nath Mishra (52), hostel supervisor Daitari Sahu (45), and administrative officer Prakashan T (48).
The deceased student, 16-year-old Krishna Pradhan, hailed from Chaibasa in Jharkhand and was a Class 10 student at Kerala English Medium School in Champua, residing in the school hostel.
Following Krishna's death, his father, Sudhansu Sekhar Pradhan, filed a police complaint alleging that his son took the extreme step due to constant physical and mental harassment by the school authorities.
Champua police launched an investigation, reviewing circumstantial evidence and CCTV footage. While initial reports were unclear, the investigation confirmed it to be a case of suicide. "The allegations were verified and the four school authorities arrested under section 108/3 (5) of the BNS (abetment of suicide). They were produced in court and later remanded in judicial custody," official sources stated.
On the morning of July 12, after attending the morning assembly, Krishna went to the hostel rooftop and jumped from the four-storey building. He was immediately rushed to Champua hospital but was declared dead on arrival.
The incident has led to widespread condemnation among guardians and parents, who have voiced concerns about the safety and well-being of students in educational institutions. The hospital and areas outside the school witnessed chaotic scenes as the student's family members demanded an immediate and thorough investigation into the circumstances leading to his death.
