Paradip, April 21: The identification of the holy logs (daru) of Lord Balabhadra has led to an undeclared closure of government-run schools at nearby villages of Maa Sarala shrine in Jagatsinghpur district.

Classes in at least four schools - Sarala Academy, Kanakpur, Kantapada Sulochana Primary School, Kantapada Upper Primary School and Kutilogram Primary School - have come to a standstill following unauthorised occupation of the school buildings by 17 platoons of armed police since the past one week. The presence of the policemen in the school buildings has triggered a row with child rights' activists, describing it as an act of impropriety.

Following the identification of holy logs, every day thousands of devotees continue to surge towards the sacred neem tree in front of the Maa Sarala shrine at Kanakpur village. It has prompted the authorities to tighten up security with armed police deployment.

"Our village drew global attention following the identification of daru. At the same time, we are sad to note that our children are being deprived of classroom teaching. Teachers told my son that the school would reopen after the daru rituals were over," said a parent, Rasananda Mohanty.

The Right to Compulsory and Free Education Act, 2009, bars misuse of schools of this nature, charged rights' activists. "Our school has become a police barrack for all practical purpose. The police forces have taken possession of the majority of classrooms. Our classes have been suspended," said a student of Kantapada school.

District collector Satya Kumar Mallik said: "In view of the exigencies of the situation, we were compelled to accommodate the police forces in schools. There is no adequate government infrastructure to accommodate the forces at Kanakpur. We have directed the school authorities to hold extra classes to make up the loss of academic hours."

Additional superintendent of police Madhabananda Sahu said: "We had requested the district collector to accommodate the police forces. According to the district administration's order, the forces are staying in the school buildings."

The act has made it mandatory on part of the government agencies to provide necessary infrastructure and logistic support, so that no child between six and 14 years of age is deprived of education. "But, the administration is snatching the available infrastructure for education in the name of maintenance of law and order," child rights' activist Binayak Swain said.

Citing instances of apex court ruling on similar occupation of school buildings in the Maoist-infested Dantewada region in Chhattisgarh and in the Posco steel project area near Paradip, he iterated that such act on part of the police was out and out unlawful.