Keonjhar ( Odisha)- A heart-wrenching incident has come to light from Hatadihi block in Tragedy in Keonjhar: Ailing Class 6 Student Dies After Alleged Teacher Assault
Odisha’s Keonjhar district, where a Class 6 student tragically lost his life allegedly after being physically punished by a teacher for not completing his homework. The incident has triggered shock and outrage in the local community.
The deceased boy, Montu Jena, hailed from Bidyadharpur village under Balibarei panchayat. He was a student of Balibarei High School and had been battling tuberculosis for some time. According to his family, Montu had recently resumed school after undergoing treatment in Cuttack and was still recovering.
Montu’s mother, Aparna Jena, had reportedly informed the school authorities about his delicate health condition, requesting them to treat him with care and avoid any form of stress or pressure.
Despite this, the family claims that Montu was subjected to corporal punishment just two days before his death, allegedly for not completing a homework assignment. After returning home that day, Montu complained of discomfort, followed by vomiting. His parents immediately rushed him to the Anandpur sub-divisional hospital. Tragically, he passed away before further medical help could be arranged.
The grieving family has blamed the school for ignoring their warnings and resorting to physical punishment. They have also raised serious concerns about the handling of the case by hospital authorities, alleging that Montu’s body was returned without a postmortem examination.
In response to the allegations, the school’s headmistress Aparna Behera has strongly denied any wrongdoing. She maintained that the school has been declared a “punishment-free zone” and that teachers are instructed to refrain from using any form of physical discipline.
The incident has raised serious questions about the enforcement of child protection policies in educational institutions, especially when students are medically vulnerable. Local authorities are yet to issue an official statement on the matter, and the demand for a thorough investigation continues to grow.
