Berhampur (Odisha), Feb 12, (PTI) About 60 students of a government-run girls' school have left hostel en masse after they came to know that the school's accountant allegedly clicked their nude pictures with the help of the hostel cook at Gudiali in Ganjam district, officials said today.

The accountant of the Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (BGVB) clicked the photographs when the students were on a picnic last year. At least 22 nude and semi nude photographs were recovered from his possession, they said.

Headmistress T Arnnapurna Patra informed the DPC about it. The fact came to fore recently.
Chairperson of district Child Welfare Committee S C Das lodged an FIR against the accountant after they inquired into the matter on the direction of the district administration, they said.

The accountant and the school cook have resigned, while the warden is on long leave following the incident, said District Project Coordinator (DPC) of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Sudam Mandal.

Around 60 of the 87 hostel inmates have gone home since Tuesday, he said.
The inmates, belonging to SC, ST and OBC, study in Class VI to VIII and stay in the hostel. A woman constable has been deployed in the hostel premises for the safety of the girls, he said.

"We have registered a case against Tulu Bhuyan, the school's accountant. He is on the run," said Inspector In-Charge (IIC) of Kabisurya Nagar police station, D R Patnaik.