An 8th-grade student, driven by fear of continuous physical assault by a fellow hostel student, jumped the hostel compound wall to flee the premises at the Katangpani Ashram School under Jamankira block in Sambalpur district.
According to reports, the victim, from Chinimuhul village, faced repeated harassment and beatings by another student inside the hostel.
Despite lodging multiple complaints with the school headmaster, no corrective action or disciplinary measures were taken. The situation reached a breaking point on Sunday night when, following another assault, the terrified boy scaled the hostel wall and fled to save himself.
The family further alleged that school authorities failed to inform them immediately after the incident. Grievances were also raised regarding systemic negligence, with parents claiming that once school hours end, the management of the residential hostel is routinely left in the hands of a single peon while the headmaster departs for home.
This practice has raised alarms over who monitors and safeguards residential students during nighttime hours.
Locals and parents noted that this is not the first time the institution has faced controversy over student safety and violence.
When contacted, the Jamankira Welfare Extension Officer (WEO) acknowledged the situation, stating, “The student’s father has submitted a verbal complaint, and I will thoroughly investigate the matter.”
Family members and local guardians have demanded a transparent, impartial probe into the incident, strict accountability for administrative negligence, and foolproof safety measures across all residential ashram schools in the region.
