6 inmates of Kasturba Balika Awasiya Vidyalatya Hostel escape alleging torture

Kumar Rajiv Nayan

Ara : Aghast with frequent torture allegedly by the hostel warden, six inmates of Kasturba Balika Awasiya Vidyalatya Hostel located at village Saraiya Belauti under Shahpur block in Bhojpur district escaped from the hostel  around mid-night on July 3, 2019. Two of them : Shivani and Manisha, residents of Suryamanpura village, were, however, recovered with the help of villagers.

Block Development Officer (BDO), Shahpur, Sunil Kumar, and Station House Officer SHO), Shahpur police station, Deep Narayan Singh, rushed to Belauti Kasturba Balika Awasiya Vidayalaya on July 4, 2019, started investigation into the matter.  Two villagers : Ram Narayan Tiwari and Hari Ji Tiwari, said that the inmates of the hostel, after fleeing from the hostel, took shelter at a community hall at the village but when a snake appeared there they girls raised an alarm. Hearing their cry, the villagers rushed to the spot and found two girls there. The girls told the villagers about their ordeals. The villagers then informed police and handed them over to them when they reached there.

SHO, Shahpur police station, Deep Narayan Singh said that the inmates of the Kasturba Balika Awasiya Vidyalaya alleged that the warden of the hostel Geeta Kumari engaged them inmenial works and also misbehaved with them. They also alleged that some gents frequently visited the hostel after sunset and stayed there the whole night.

Police have taken into custody Warden Geeta Kumari and two women of dubious character, who said that they had come from Danapur and also had some relation with the warden, when they were trying to escape from the place after jumping off the walls of the hostel. They are being interrogated. Police also seized mobile phone of the warden.

Warden, Kasturba Balika Awasiya Vidyalay, said that the girls, who were recovered, were not admitted so far and were living there illegaly. She also said that the guardians had taken the rest four girls with them with her permission. She also refuted charges levelled against her by the inmates of the hostel and said that it is being done to malign her image.

The District Education Officer (DEO) removed the warden, Kasturba Balika Awasiya Vidyalaya, with immediate effect and police took the warden, two guards of the hostel, and two women under custody for interrogation. BDO, Shahpur, Sunil Kumar said that investigation is going on and police are interrogating the warden and other persons and inmates of the hotel.