Baripada, Jan. 27: A group of 73 girl students of a government-run residential school at Suiapada walked 30km (more than 18 miles) to meet the district collector at Baripada to vent their grievances against the new matron on the night of Republic Day.

The students started their journey in the evening and reached the collector's residence around midnight. They declined the police offer to transport them to the collector's residence, about 16km before Baripada, and decided to walk the stretch.

They told the district collector Rajesh Pravakar Patil that they did not like the behaviour of their matron, who was very strict. Patil listened to them, promised to take necessary action and offered them food. Later, the district administration dropped the schoolchildren at their hostel.

Patil said: "The students did not have any specific demand. I have asked for a special inquiry into the matter."

The students belonged to Pakitia school under Suliapada block of Mayurbhanj district. Some of the students alleged that their matron was very strict and did not let them to use mobile phones.

The mass education department runs the school, while the hostel is under the SC/ST welfare department.

Official sources, however, said the girls seemed to have been instigated by vested interests against the matron, who recently joined duty.

"The collector has asked for a probe into the incident. Our information is that the students were instigated and asked to undertake the journey to meet the collector. We will take action against the people, who had used the students for their personal gains," said district welfare officer Krupasindhu Behera.