Three minor tribal schoolgirls found pregnant in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur, Collector orders probe

RAIPUR: Three minor tribal schoolgirls were found to be pregnant when they appeared for examination on Saturday in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh. While it was earlier alleged that the girls were residing at govt hostels when they conceived, the education minister Gajendra Yadav and district administration maintained that they were students of govt schools but were not staying at hostels.

Officials said that their pregnancies were confirmed through pregnancy cards prepared by field-level health department workers. All three are said to be around over five months pregnant and minors aged 17.According to information, the girls had stopped going to school for the past two-three months and they appeared for the school examination when the matter came to light. Amid uproar in state assembly and allegations of attempts to downplay the matter, it was made clear by the administration and minister that only one girl was earlier enrolled at a portacabin who left the hostel in October, 2025.

Bijapur collector Sambit Mishra told TOI that he has constituted a district level probe committee on Monday comprising additional district magistrate, district education officer, chief health and medical officer and assistant commissioner of tribal department. They will be recording statements, visit the village of girls and submit a detailed report later this week. Speaking to TOI, Bijapur SP Jitendra Yadav said based on the administration's report, a case will be lodged, while a team of police was also visiting the village where girls live.

A local MLA Vikram Mandavi alleged that the matter came light nearly five months ago, after which the girls were quietly removed from the institution and stopped attending school regularly. Locals said that it was common to find youths couple-up at early age in tribal regions and many such cases go unreported as it's accepted within the community. Officials said the administration and departments concerned were working to spread awareness, though social change would take time.