Kotkhai gangrape-murder: Students struggle to overcome trauma

The school, which caters to Halalia and Mahasu villages, has 94 students and 12 teachers.

Amid the public outrage, children of Government Senior Secondary School at Mahasu are struggling to overcome the trauma after the body of the 16-year-old girl student was found in the woods barely 500 metres from the school.

Students of Classes 9 to 12 did not attend school for two days in solidarity. (HT Photo)

It has taken teachers two weeks to counsel the schoolchildren after the girl’s gangrape and murder. The girl went missing on July 4 and was found dead on July 6.

The school, which caters to Hilaila and Mahasu villages, has 94 students and 12 teachers.

“It’s been a challenge for us. Initially, children were reluctant to attend school,” principal Anil Kumar said. “Attendance dropped after the murder. Children were shocked by the police presence at the rest house near the school,” he said.

The police’s special investigation team stayed at the village for over a week and questioned 84 people. The victim had joined the school on May 6. “She attended classes for 41 days,” the principal said.

Students of Classes 9 to 12 did not attend school for two days in solidarity. The children and staff attended a prayer meeting on Sunday at the crime spot in the jungle, said a teacher.