A 38-year-old government primary school teacher was taken into custody on Sunday for allegedly disrobing and sexually assaulting a Class V student inside the school washroom in Pilibhit district. Police took suo moto action after Basic Shiksha Adhikari (BSA) of the area, Roshni Singh, suspended the accused teacher on Saturday evening.
Incident Details
According to police, the incident occurred about a month ago. The 10-year-old survivor remained silent after the accused repeatedly threatened to kill her if she informed anyone. Finally, she broke down before her mother and narrated her ordeal recently. The accused also tried to settle the matter with the family. Fearing the man's threats, the girl's parents have not yet filed an FIR, police said.
Police and Legal Response
SP Sukirti Madhav said a 'Mission Shakti' team would be sent to persuade them to lodge a written complaint. A two-member magisterial team from the child welfare committee told TOI that it would obtain the case details from BSA on Monday, record the statements of the girl and her parents, before passing an order to the police station to register an FIR.
The BSA told TOI that an inquiry against the teacher was assigned to the block education officer who would file a detailed report within a fortnight. The accused teacher had been with the basic education department for 13 years, she added.
Legal Expert's View
This particular incident cannot be settled through compromise under the Supreme Court guidelines, which had stated it as heinous, non-compoundable not only against an individual but the society, said Ashwani Agnihotri, a senior lawyer in Pilibhit.
About the Author
Keshav Agarwal has been with The Times of India since June 1, 2014, currently posted in Pilibhit. He specializes in reporting on forest and wildlife, environment, water resources, agriculture, and the sugar and ethanol industries. He also covers a broad range of other topics, including health and medicine, education, development, and crime.
