Baragada: Police in Odisha’s Baragada district have arrested the principal of a private college on charges of sexually harassing a Class 10 student under the pretext of providing academic guidance.
The accused has been identified as Debadatta Pradhan, who serves as both a science teacher and the principal of a private college at Bardol.
According to sources, Pradhan picked up the minor student from the college’s coaching centre. The accused persuaded the victim’s family to let the boy travel with him to Baragada town, claiming the trip was necessary for attending an educational conference and holding special coaching sessions. The family was told that an overnight stay would be required for the student’s studies.
However, after arriving in Baragada, Pradhan checked into a hotel room, where he allegedly sexually harassed and abused the student. Suspicious of the situation and fearing for his safety, the student managed to discreetly send a text message to his family members, detailing his predicament and requesting urgent assistance.
Upon receiving the alert, the family members immediately approached the Bargarh Town Police, who then accompanied them to the hotel and safely rescued the student. While police are yet to issue a statement on the incident, the victim’s family has demanded stringent legal action against the accused.