Raighar: Residents of Turudi village locked the main gate of the local school in protest, demanding that the recently transferred headmaster be allowed to continue at the school. The protest was held in response to the order for the headmaster to return to his previous posting.
The newly appointed headmaster, Krushnapada Mandal, had joined Turudi High School on June 25. The villagers and students demanded that he be allowed to stay, stating that he had already begun his duties and had gained their confidence in a short period of time.
Upon receiving information, Block Education Officer (BEO) Bikash Chandra Sarkar arrived at the site and tried to mediate and resolve the issue by engaging with the villagers and students.
Present during the protest were notable villagers such as Majumdar, Gautam Dhali, Suresh Sarkar, Pankaj Sana, Ratan Singh, Sameer Singh, Lilima Bala, and Juli Sarkar.
Previously, the headmaster Prakash Thauki had been transferred from Turudi High School to Beheramunda Chandahandi UG High School on June 16, while Krushnapada Mandal, who was earlier serving at Jhariguma Kashi Prasad Sahu Govt. Nodal High School in Tentulikhunti block, was transferred to Turudi.
However, a fresh directive from the District Education Officer (DEO) on July 3 ordered Krushnapada Mandal to return to his former posting, prompting outrage from the villagers and students who expressed their dissatisfaction by locking the school gate.
The villagers alleged that the former headmaster, Deo Das Shatnami, had a poor track record—he was often under the influence of alcohol, mismanaged the school environment, and failed to distribute student uniforms last year. They claimed that Krushnapada Mandal, who had only recently joined, had already brought positive changes.
The villagers questioned why, after only a few days of service, Krushnapada Mandal was being sent back, and they criticized the DEO’s decision to reassign him without clear justification. The protest was led by concerned villagers like Bishwajit from Turudi village, demanding that Mandal be allowed to stay and serve as headmaster.
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