Girl found dead at Chhattisgarh school; principal accused of sexual harassment

Police superintendent Shashi Mohan Singh said that the principal has been arrested based on the contents of a note and other findings

A 15-year-old girl was found dead at a residential school in Chhattisgarh’s Jashpur district, police said on Tuesday, and added a note recovered from the spot accused the school principal of sexual harassment. The Class 9 student allegedly used a saree to hang herself from the ceiling on Sunday evening.

Police said a case has been registered, and further investigation was underway. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Police superintendent Shashi Mohan Singh said that the principal has been arrested based on the contents of the note and other findings. “A case has been registered, and further investigation is underway.”

Sub-divisional magistrate Pradeep Rathiya said a magisterial inquiry has been ordered, and the exact circumstances leading to the death will be known after the probe.

A joint team of the education, tribal, and police departments inspected the school. Preliminary probe found that a hostel was being run on the campus without authorisation. “Of the 124 students enrolled from classes 6 to 12, 22 boys and 11 girls were staying in the hostel, which was allegedly being operated without mandatory permissions. All relevant documents have been seized,” said assistant commissioner (tribal department) Sanjay Singh.