<p>In an unusual form of protest, more than 100 students of a state-run tribal girls high school walked more than 25 kilometres at night in the cold to Mayurbhanj District Collector's office demanding action against their hostel authorities for alleged ill-treatment.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Around 7 PM yesterday, 107 students of Pakatia government girls' high school in Mayurbhanj district of Odisha run by SC/ST department, came out of the school campus alleging continuous harassment and ill-treatment in the hostel by authorities.<br /><br />Though efforts were made to persuade the girls to return to their campus, they refused to withdraw.<br /><br />Unable to stop the angry girls, police escorted them on the 25-km walk to the District Collector's office here.<br /><br />At the District Collectorate, they staged a dharna on the road at midnight demanding action against the matron, accusing her of ill-treatment and serving low standard meals to them in the hostel.<br /><br />They also alleged that the school did have adequate teaching facilities.<br /><br />Mayurbhanj District Collector Rajesh Prabhakar Patil rushed to the site at about 1 AM and assured action against errant officials.<br /><br />"We have dropped the girls at their school and the district administration has assured to take action against erring officials after a probe," said District Welfare Office Krupasindhu Behera.<br /><br />Mayurbhanj SP, Gadhadhar Pradhani, Mayurbhanj Zilla Parishad Chairperson, Prakash Soren, along with other top officials were present during the discussion with the agitating girls.<br /></p>
<p>In an unusual form of protest, more than 100 students of a state-run tribal girls high school walked more than 25 kilometres at night in the cold to Mayurbhanj District Collector's office demanding action against their hostel authorities for alleged ill-treatment.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Around 7 PM yesterday, 107 students of Pakatia government girls' high school in Mayurbhanj district of Odisha run by SC/ST department, came out of the school campus alleging continuous harassment and ill-treatment in the hostel by authorities.<br /><br />Though efforts were made to persuade the girls to return to their campus, they refused to withdraw.<br /><br />Unable to stop the angry girls, police escorted them on the 25-km walk to the District Collector's office here.<br /><br />At the District Collectorate, they staged a dharna on the road at midnight demanding action against the matron, accusing her of ill-treatment and serving low standard meals to them in the hostel.<br /><br />They also alleged that the school did have adequate teaching facilities.<br /><br />Mayurbhanj District Collector Rajesh Prabhakar Patil rushed to the site at about 1 AM and assured action against errant officials.<br /><br />"We have dropped the girls at their school and the district administration has assured to take action against erring officials after a probe," said District Welfare Office Krupasindhu Behera.<br /><br />Mayurbhanj SP, Gadhadhar Pradhani, Mayurbhanj Zilla Parishad Chairperson, Prakash Soren, along with other top officials were present during the discussion with the agitating girls.<br /></p>