Chandigarh: As many as 142 girl students have revealed that they were sexually harassed by the principal of a government school in Haryana’s Jind district.
Around 60 girls had initially complained against the accused, Kartar Singh.
Police arrested the principal on November 6 following an ultimatum by the Haryana State Commission for Women.
The girls opened up in front of a sexual harassment committee, headed by a sub divisional magistrate.
The victims alleged that the 55-year-old principal used to call them to his office and indulge in “obscene acts”, State Commission for Women’s chairperson Renu Bhatia said.
“The committee which conducted a preliminary inquiry has found him prima facie guilty. The committee interacted with 390 girl students of class 9, 10, 11 and 12. Out of these, 142 students have directly or indirectly confirmed some of the allegations levelled against the principal,” Hindustan Times quoted Jind deputy commissioner Mohammad Imran Raza as saying.
Jind district police registered a case against Singh on October 30 under Section 8 (sexual assault) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act and Section 354 (molestation) of IPC. He was subsequently suspended by the state government.
Haryana chief minister ML Khattar said the government had zero tolerance for such incidents.
“The accused, whosoever he may be, would not be spared,” he said, adding that a female principal has been posted at the Jind school and 16 other staff members have been transferred.
“To address the issue comprehensively, Renu Bhatia, the chairperson of the Haryana state women commission, has been asked to organise seminars in collaboration with the police to prevent such heinous acts from occurring. Haryana has already enacted legislation to curb such incidents, including a provision for capital punishment,” Khattar said.
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