Odisha teacher arrested for assaulting Class 8 student for 6 months: Police

Kandhamal teacher arrested after Class 8 student alleges repeated assault; police form SIT to expedite probe

Published on: Mar 5, 2026, 20:56:55 IST

By Debabrata Mohanty

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Bhubaneswar: A school teacher was arrested on Thursday for allegedly assaulting a Class 8 student over the last six months in Odisha’s Kandhamal district, police said.

Odisha teacher produced before court in assault case involving Class 8 student

The teacher, Kunu Bhoi, was arrested by the police and produced before a court, Kandhamal Superintendent of Police (SP) Harisha BC said.

According to the police, the teacher had accompanied the student to a science fair in Phulbani town on November 21 last year. “While returning from the fair in the evening, the teacher allegedly took the minor into a secluded forest area along the Phulbani–Gochhapada road and sexually assaulted her,” an officer said.

“After the incident, the accused allegedly threatened the girl and continued to sexually exploit her. Reports suggest he forced the minor to maintain physical relations with him on several occasions, including on the school premises,” he added.

The matter came to light after the girl fell ill, prompting her mother to question her. Initially, the minor was too frightened to reveal the teacher’s name.

The family lodged a written complaint at the Gochhapada police station, after which a case was registered and a probe was launched.

Meanwhile, a delegation led by Biju Janata Dal (BJD) women’s wing leader Poonam Kanhar and Phulbani Municipality chairperson Payal Behera met the Kandhamal SP, demanding strict action.

The Kandhamal SP said a special investigation team has been formed to expedite the probe.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debabrata Mohanty
Debabrata Mohanty is a senior assistant editor of Hindustan Times who works as state correspondent from Odisha covering the state's politics, governance, public policy, natural disasters, environment and its society for close to three decades. With his long years of reporting from the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Mohanty has been known as one of the most experienced and credible journalists covering Odisha for the national English dailies. His reporting combines on-ground detail with deep institutional knowledge detailing the state's changing politics, governance issues, administrative reforms and the functioning of its public institutions. He has regularly reported on issues ranging from legislative developments and public policy implementation. Politics is his core areas of expertise as he closely tracks Odisha's political landscape, including the rise and transformation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two principal political parties in Odisha. His long association with the state's political establishment enables him to write on contemporary developments in a larger political context. Mohanty takes a deep interest in writing human interest stories, environmental issues and documenting the impact of cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events in one of the most disaster-prone states. His coverage extends to public health, governance reforms and stories on accountability of government institutions. Before joining Hindustan Times, Mohanty worked with The Indian Express, Mail Today, and The Telegraph, where he covered at least six general elections and as many assembly elections. In 2007, he was selected for the prestigious Chevening Young Indian Print Journalist Programme at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, where he received advanced training in print journalism. In 2009 he won the Press Institute of India-International Committee of Red Cross award on conflict reporting for his on-ground reportage of 2008 Kandhamal riots.Read More

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