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Girl accuses teacher of sexual harassment
A 13-year-old student of a government school in Bokaro has accused a para-teacher of sexually molesting her, a charge the accused termed as an attempt by a rival to frame him.
A 13-year-old student of a government school in Bokaro has accused a para-teacher of sexually molesting her, a charge the accused termed as an attempt by a rival to frame him.
The class-six student said she had not gone to school, which is about 70km from the district headquarters, for the past 10 months fearing her science teacher. The girl’s father, a private driver and a part-time labourer, lodged an FIR against the teacher with the Bokaro Thermal police station on March 4.
The student alleged the teacher followed her to school toilet and forced her to sit on his lap during lunch break.
“Our principal asked me not to disclose the matter to anybody as it would defame the school,” she said.
The assistant teacher told HT it was a trap planned by an old foe to defame him. The teacher claimed he teaches only students in classes 1 to 4, and since the girl was in class 6, there is no chance he might have even spoken to her.
“I don’t know the girl, neither have I ever taught her,” he said. “The complainants are blackmailing me for money.”
Bokaro superintendent of police A Vijay Laxmi said the case appeared to be a result of personal rivalry between two groups.“We are taking the case seriously, but haven’t found any concrete evidence by now,” Laxmi said.
Sources from the police department said the man, who also works as a part-time reporter, was probably falsely accused by people who had personal differences with him.
The girl’s family has written to the deputy commissioner of Bokaro and the chief minister. “We only want justice and hindrance-free education for our daughter,” said her father.
