Hyderabad: In an incident that could have serious administrative ramifications and raise doubts about the security arrangements in residential schools, four Class 9 students from the Kalwakuthy Tribal Residential School in Nagarkurnool district ran away on Saturday night. They have not reached their homes and their whereabouts remain a mystery. Around 300 girls are studying in the school.
Ironically, the security cameras in the school premises became non-functional for four hours when they escaped at around 10.30 pm. There is no footage to show how the girls made good their escape.
The immediate suspicion is that the girls were helped by some school authorities.
The four girls are from Macharam, Rampur Penta and Balmur villages. According to sources, the students wanted holiday for Diwali to go home. But the holidays were cancelled due to the ongoing RTC strike.
Principal Venkat Ram Reddy and hostel warden had gone home for the festival. Mr Reddy rushed back Sunday evening when he was informed that the incident.
Mr Reddy said, “We are going to initiate action against the watchman and the staff of the hostel, who should have been more alert. The parents have been contacted but the girls have not gone home either.”
The girls were traced in the city, according to late night reports.
Mr Achyut Rao from Bala Hakula Sangam, said “The government must conduct an inquiry on why the cameras were not working for four hours? How come there is recording of the whole day but not when they escaped. There is someone from the hostel, who is involved and there must be a proper inquiry into the incident. This is a matter of grave concern.”
