Nagpur: The principal and two other staff members of the govt-aided ashramshala at Japatlai in Dhanora taluka of Gadchiroli were named in an FIR for negligence that caused snakebite deaths of three tribal girl students early Monday.The crackdown on Wednesday comes a day after the state govt kickstarted the process to cancel the school’s permission, ordered a statewide audit of ashramshalas and set August 14 deadline for announcement of new standard operating procedures (SOPs).The FIR was lodged against ashramshala headmaster Prashant Tatpalliwar and two hostel superintendents, Bhagyashree Chinlamwar and Bhaskar Bhoyar, following a police complaint by an assistant project officer (education) with the integrated tribal development project, Gadchiroli.The charges slapped against the trio include causing death by negligence endangering life with enhanced punishment where grievous hurt is caused and joint liability for such acts. Section 75 of Juvenile Justice Act (cruelty to child while in care) was also added to the FIR. While three students bitten by a venomous snake died, two others are critical.Tribal development minister Ashok Uike told reporters in Nagpur on Wednesday that the ashramshala had been operating since 1992, and officials confirmed there were no arrangements for beds. “We gave a financial grant to this school, and the facility for beds was part of the allocation. If beds were still not provided, it’s a serious breach of SOP,” said Uike. He added that show-cause notices have been issued to officials who inspected the school over a year and failed to report violations.
