Bhubaneswar, Jan. 4: The state government has initiated a third probe into the Deogarh strip search case that allegedly drove a Class VIII girl to suicide.

Already two separate administrative probes have been conducted in the case. While one probe was conducted by the Deograrh district project coordinator, Sarva Siksha Abhiyan, another probe was conducted by the local circle inspector.

The incident took place at the Kundigola High School in Riamal block of Deogarh district on December 28. A student of Class VIII made a complaint to the school headmaster alleging that Rs 110 had gone missing from her pencil box. The teacher entrusted the responsibility of finding out the culprit, in course of investigation, reportedly strip-searched around 30 students of the class and found the stolen amount from one Sani Sahoo.

Unable to bear the humiliation and shame, Sahoo apparently attempted suicide by consuming something poisonous on her way back home. The teenager was rushed to the hospital but she succumbed on the way.

Since the illiterate parents of the girl conducted her last rites without having conducted a postmortem, the case remained mysterious.

As the probe conducted by the CI and the DPC failed to bring out the reason behind the death of the teenager, the school and mass education department has directed a two-member team to take up another independent probe.

The team would include two female class one officers who would visit Deogarh and talk to teachers, students and parents of the deceased.