Bhubaneswar: A school teacher has been arrested for alleged sexual assault on a Class IX girl in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district on April 25.
The accused has been identified as Jatindra Mohanta of Krushnachandrapur Government High School in Betnoti area of Mayurbhanj.
The victim’s family lodged a complaint which stated that 58-year-old Mohanta allegedly made several attempts to get sexual favours from the student, who was threatened with poor marks in exams.
Mohanta reportedly intercepted the victim when she was returning home at around 9 pm on April 25. He allegedly took the girl forcibly to a secluded place and sexually assaulted her.
As a passerby rushed to the spot on hearing the victim’s screams, Mohanta fled the scene.
Based on the complaint, Betnoti police registered a case against Mohanta and initiated a probe.
Mohanta was arrested and produced in a local court. He is currently in jail as his bail petition was denied.
Disciplinary action will be taken against Mohanta.
“We will place the accused teacher under suspension after receiving a written information regarding his arrest from the police,” said Mayurbhanj District Education Officer (DEO) Purna Chandra Sethi.
Mohanta had reportedly faced disciplinary action in a similar case in 2021.
