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Rourkela: The headmistress of a primary school in Bonai sub-division of Odisha's Sundergarh district has been suspended on charges of negligence after 15 students escaped from the boys' hostel on January 28, officials said on Thursday. According to officials, the Bonai block education officer (BEO) has suspended Sihidiha Primary School headmistress Draupadi Sahu on charges of negligence.

Escaped at midnight after being punished by the warden

He said all the students are aged between seven and ten years and fled around midnight after a punishment was allegedly meted out to one of them by the warden. The boy, upset with the punishment, drove the other students out of the hostel and returned to his village Balan. The Barkot police in Devgarh district bordering Bonai were informed and they immediately took the boys into safe custody.

Students blamed the warden

The next morning, the Mahulpada police contacted the Barkot police and brought the boys back. Sources said though the students alleged that the warden's behaviour was not good towards the students, no action was taken against her.