Odisha Teacher Arrested for Allegedly Raping Student Multiple Times
A government high school teacher in Sundargarh district, Odisha, was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly raping a Class IX student on multiple occasions and threatening her to remain silent. The arrest came just one day after district education authorities suspended the 34-year-old accused from his teaching position.
Teacher Served as Acting Head of School
Police confirmed that the accused was employed as an arts teacher and was serving as the acting head of the school at the time of the alleged crimes. According to investigators, the teacher exploited his position of authority to repeatedly sexually assault the 14-year-old girl while issuing threats to prevent her from reporting the abuse.
Pattern of Abuse and Exploitation
The disturbing pattern of abuse began when the student approached the teacher for assistance with correcting an error in her Aadhaar details. Police stated that the teacher allegedly escorted the girl to an Aadhaar center and later to his rented accommodation, where he first sexually assaulted her.
Investigators revealed that the abuse continued on multiple occasions, including instances on the school premises when no other staff or students were present. The teacher reportedly threatened the girl with dire consequences if she disclosed the sexual assaults to anyone.
Previous Complaints and Internal Inquiry
Police sources indicated that the survivor and several other students had complained about the teacher's inappropriate behavior to school administration as early as January. The matter was subsequently forwarded to the district education office, which initiated an investigation.
A two-member internal complaints committee visited the school and conducted a thorough inquiry into the allegations. After the committee submitted its report on Tuesday, the district education officer suspended the teacher from service that same evening.
Arrest and Legal Proceedings
Following his suspension, the teacher went into hiding, but police were able to trace and arrest him on Wednesday after the survivor filed a formal complaint at the local police station. Authorities registered a case under sections related to rape and criminal intimidation against the accused.
Both the survivor and the accused have undergone medical examination as part of the ongoing investigation, police confirmed. The case has drawn significant attention to student safety protocols in educational institutions across the region.
Broader Implications for School Safety
This incident raises serious questions about protection mechanisms for students in government schools and the effectiveness of internal complaint procedures. The fact that multiple students had previously reported inappropriate behavior suggests systemic issues that require immediate attention from education authorities.
The arrest comes amid growing concerns about sexual violence in educational settings and the need for stronger safeguards to protect vulnerable students from predatory behavior by those in positions of trust and authority.
