Bhubaneswar, Nov. 6: The state government today dismissed four officials from services for their alleged roles in the events leading to the death of 27-year-old schoolteacher Itishree Pradhan.

The four persons are sub-inspector of schools Netranand Dandasena, district inspector of schools Kashipur, assistant sub-inspector of police Murlidhar Pradhan and inspector-in-charge Sujit Kumar Sai of Tikiri police station.

Criminals set sikhya sahayak of Tikiri Upper Primary School Itishree Pradhan on fire on October 27 night when she was sleeping in her hostel room.

Earlier, Itishree had refused to withdraw the sexual harassment case against Dandasena. In her dying declaration, she had accused him of sexually harassing her.

“Dandasena is an accused in the case, while Kashipur showed negligence in his duty. In normal circumstances it was not possible to dismiss them from their service. We consulted with the law department and, in an exceptional and exemplary situation, decided to initiate such an action against them. Chief minister Naveen Patnaik has approved the action,” said department secretary Usha Padhee.

In another development, crime branch officials today grilled Dandasena in its Cuttack office.

In her dying declaration, Itishree is reported to have told the magistrate that the accused was close to the local BJD MP. It was because of his political contacts that gave him the clout to get away with the harassment case.

Opposition parties have demanded the chief minister’s resignation. Senior BJD leader Kalpataru Das said the guilty would be punished.