A 15-year-old tribal girl student residing in a hostel has been found pregnant in Malkangiri district, officials said today.
The incident comes close on the heels of at least three minor girls being made pregnant in Koraput district and one in Kandhamal in the state during the last two months.
The girl, a class IX student who hails from Kacheli village, studies in a school run by the School and Mass Education department and stays in a hostel managed by ST and SC Development department at Pedakonda, said Manas Kumar Jena, District Education Officer (DEO).
After the matter came to the knowledge of the administration yesterday, hostel superintendent Sabitarani Sarkar was placed under suspension, Jena said.
While the administration was inquiring into the matter, police had also started investigation into the incident in order to ascertain who was responsible for pregnancy of the girl, he said.
The girl, who had gone to her village during vacation, was believed to have been involved in a relationship with a boy of the same area, police said, adding, the boy has been detained for interrogation.
"Investigation is in progress and appropriate action will be taken to book the culprit and give justice to the minor girl," said Inspector In-Charge of Malkangiri police station Rajkishore Dash.
