A government school in Uttar Pradesh’s Shajahanpur was arrested for allegedly molesting at least 12 girls, including Dalit students, according to police officials.
The accused was identified as Mohammad Ali, a computer instructor, while headmaster Anil Kumar and assistant teacher Sajia have also been booked in this connection, police told PTI.
Around 12 girl students, including Dalits, studying in a junior government school in Tilhar police station area, were allegedly molested by computer instructor Mohammad Ali, police said.
Initially, when some girls complained about this to Headmaster Kumar, he did not take any action, said Circle Officer Priyank Jain of Tilhar police station.
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Quoting the FIR lodged by the village head Lalta Prasad, he said that Sajia was also involved in this matter and on Saturday another Dalit student was molested by Ali, after which the students went to their homes and informed their families about it.
Following this, the family members along with the villagers reached the school and created a ruckus.
The three accused have been booked under sections of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, the IPC and the POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act, police said.
Basic Shiksha Adhikari (BSA) of Kumar Gaurav said that he visited the school and also talked to the family members of the students and villagers. Prima facie, the computer instructor seems to be at fault.
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The matter is being investigated and strict action will be taken against those found guilty, Gaurav said.
Speaking to news agency ANI, Shahjahanpur Senior Superintendent of Police S Anand said that the Child Welfare Committee had been informed of the incident.
Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh minister Baldev Singh Aulakh also condemned the incident and called for strict action against the accused, NDTV reported. On the alleged assault on Dalit girls, he said the matter was not about Dalits.
“We respect all castes and communities, the matter isn't about Dalits, but about the girls and action should be taken against the accused as per law,” he was quoted as saying in the report.
