Berhampur: Two more minor students in Kandhamal district have been found pregnant. The headmistress of a govt residential school filed FIRs at two separate police stations in connection with the incidents on Thursday.

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Three Class X students, all aged around 15 years, have been found pregnant in Kandhamal within a week.

“The cases have been registered under various sections of BNS and Pocso (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act. Investigation has been initiated,” a senior police officer said.

The recent cases emerged during routine health check-ups and counselling sessions conducted by hostel staff, including the matron, after the students returned from summer vacation.

The two students are said to have claimed the incidents occurred in their respective villages during the break. The matron conducted initial pregnancy tests, which came positive. “The findings were later confirmed at the nearby sub-divisional hospital (SDH) by the headmistress,” said district welfare officer (DWO), Rabindra Nath Mishra.

Upon confirmation of their pregnancy, the headmistress informed the students’ parents and filed police complaints.

The parents, however, claimed ignorance about the incidents.

The students returned to the hostel in the first week of July, with schools reopening on June 21. Earlier this week, police arrested a 16-year-old boy for impregnating a 15-year-old Class X student, following an FIR lodged by the school headmaster. The girl’s pregnancy was confirmed through hospital tests.

Mishra emphasised that health checks for female boarders are conducted periodically by trained auxiliary nurse midwives (ANMs). Additionally, life-cycle education classes are provided to the girls to prevent such incidents.

Ramendra Prasad, sub-divisional police officer (SDPO), said an awareness drive is underway to educate about the provisions of Pocso Act to prevent similar occurrences.