A lecturer at a government pre-university college in Afzalpur, Kalaburagi district, has been formally charged under the stringent Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The case was registered following a complaint filed by the father of a girl student on Saturday, January 6.
Allegations of New Year's Day Harassment
The accused, identified as Rajkumar Kumbar, an economics lecturer who was recently transferred to the Afzalpur PU College, stands accused of sexually harassing a girl student. The alleged incident occurred on the morning of New Year's Day, January 1. Following the incident, the lecturer proceeded to take leave from his duties starting Friday, January 5.
Public Outcry and Principal's Action
The situation escalated on Saturday when parents of the girl students and members of the public staged a protest at the college premises. The agitated crowd demanded the immediate arrest of the lecturer and insisted that the college remain closed until action was taken.
College Principal Gurulingaiah Salimath confirmed the gravity of the situation to the media. He stated that it was found to be true that the economics lecturer had sexually harassed girl students on New Year's Day, the same day he was on leave. The principal took proactive steps by providing all necessary information to the police.
In a significant development, a total of 16 girl students submitted written complaints to the principal, urging him to take action against Rajkumar Kumbar for allegedly harassing them. Principal Salimath handed over these crucial letters to the police to aid in the investigation.
Police Investigation and Impending Arrest
Kalaburagi Superintendent of Police Aduru Srinivasulu provided an update on the case. He confirmed that a formal case has been registered under the POCSO Act at the Afzalpur police station. The SP assured that the investigation would be conducted swiftly and that the suspect would be arrested soon. The case highlights the ongoing challenges of ensuring safety in educational institutions and the critical role of prompt institutional and legal response to such serious allegations.
