In a troubling incident reported from a girls' hostel managed by the Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes Development department in the Lamtaput block of Koraput district, serious allegations of molestation have emerged. An unidentified individual reportedly entered the hostel on the night of April 13 and allegedly assaulted an 8-year-old girl. The situation only came to light 17 days later, on April 30, when the girl was sent home by the hostel staff. Concerned about her declining health, her family inquired and discovered the distressing event, leading them to file a complaint at the Machkund police station.

This incident has sparked significant political unrest in the Lamtaput area. Superintendent of Police Rohit Verma, along with SDPO Debendra Mallik and a special investigation team, visited the hostel in Guneipada on Thursday to investigate the claims. The Machkund police have officially registered a case (33/2025), and Sub-Inspector Sukra Madhi has initiated the inquiry.

The victim has undergone a medical examination, and her statement was taken before a magistrate. However, despite the seriousness of the allegations, no arrests have been made to date. Public outrage is growing due to the perceived inaction and lack of accountability from the hostel superintendent, who allegedly neglected to report or address the situation during the 17-day interval. In response, the victim's family, supported by local political figures and activists, organized a protest march to the Lamtaput police outpost on Friday evening, where they presented a memorandum to Officer in-Charge Srikant Ghosh, demanding the immediate apprehension of the suspect and strict measures against the hostel administration.

Due to the sensitive nature of the case, SDPO Debendra Mallik refrained from providing additional comments on the ongoing investigation. Meanwhile, several local youths have been detained for questioning as part of the inquiry. Under the guidance of the Superintendent of Police, personnel from Nandapur, Padua, Baipariguda, Jeypore, and Koraput headquarters have joined the investigation and were observed inspecting the hostel premises on Friday. Although the hostel superintendent has not made any public statements, District Welfare Officer Sunil Kumar Tandi confirmed that an internal departmental investigation is currently underway. Tandi noted that Assistant District Welfare Officer Arjun Nayak has already visited the hostel, evaluated the circumstances, and engaged in discussions with the victim's family. The student is receiving medical care, and further actions will be determined once the medical report is available.