A government school assistant headmaster in Dharmapuri, who was arrested for allegedly sexually harassing a minor student, died in prison early Tuesday morning after suffering a sudden cardiac arrest. The incident has sent shockwaves through the local community and raised serious questions about safety in educational institutions.
Details of the Alleged Crime and Arrest
The deceased has been identified as M Manivannan, 48, a resident of Nallampally. According to police officials, the incident dates back to November 27. Manivannan, who worked at a government school in Kudipatty, is accused of taking a Class IX girl to a playground approximately one kilometre away from the school premises. He reportedly did this under the false pretext of conducting sports practice and then sexually harassed the minor.
The brave young girl later informed her parents about the traumatic experience. Her family immediately alerted the school principal, Shanthi Mani. Following this, Principal Shanthi Mani lodged a formal complaint with the Dharmapuri all-woman police station, initiating legal proceedings.
After a thorough inquiry, police launched a search for Manivannan, who had gone into hiding after the incident. He was subsequently arrested and formally booked under the stringent Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The court remanded him to judicial custody, and he was lodged in Dharmapuri sub-jail on December 16.
Suspension and Sudden Death in Custody
In a parallel administrative action, Dharmapuri District Education Officer Jyothi Chandra ordered the immediate suspension of Manivannan from his post. This step is standard procedure in such serious allegations involving a government employee.
The case took a dramatic and fatal turn in the early hours of Tuesday. Around 12:30 am, Manivannan complained of severe chest pain while in prison. Alert prison officials quickly rushed him to the Dharmapuri Government Medical College and Hospital for emergency treatment.
Unfortunately, despite their efforts, doctors at the hospital declared him “brought dead” upon arrival. The exact medical cause is attributed to a sudden cardiac arrest. The body has been sent for a postmortem examination as per protocol, after which it will be handed over to his family members.
Police Investigation and Precautions
Local police have registered a case regarding the death and have initiated an inquiry to ascertain the complete sequence of events. As a precautionary measure to prevent any untoward incident or law and order situation, police personnel have been deployed at the hospital where the body was kept.
This tragic episode underscores several critical issues:
- The importance of robust mechanisms to protect children in schools.
- The enforcement of the POCSO Act to address sexual offences against minors.
- The procedures followed in cases of custodial deaths.
The community in Dharmapuri is now grappling with the fallout of an alleged crime by an educator and its unexpected, fatal conclusion within the judicial system.
