BENGALURU: The principal of a Kendriya Vidyalaya in Bengaluru has been booked following a complaint of alleged sexual abuse of a student. Police officials said the case has been registered under POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act and that investigation is on.
On Thursday, Chairperson of the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR) Kripa Alva visited the school after receiving information about the incident and got a copy of the complaint. The complaint, a copy of which is available with Express, says, the “teaching staff of the school contacted the Child Line (Child help line) 1098 and filed a complaint against the principal of their school.”
On receiving information through the Child Line, Vasudeva Sharma, nodal director of the Child Line in Bengaluru city, lodged a complaint under POCSO Act with the jurisdictional police and an FIR was filed.
The complaint reads: “On January 14, 2017, I received a phone call from a staffer of Kendriya Vidyalaya, Bengaluru, stating that she wished to report sexual abuse of many girl students by the principal of the school.
“It was stated that the principal was allegedly sexually abusing and harassing girl students, particularly of Classes 10 and 12. He claimed to be counselling girl students and asked them to come to his room, and met them alone for over half an hour to one hour. It has also been reported that he has been sending messages to girl students on WhatsApp that are personal in nature. The staff, both men and women, also reported that the abuse of girl children is known to many teachers and students of the school, but none came forward to complain owing to fear of being targeted.”
In the complaint, Vasudeva Sharma also mentioned about particular instances of abuse reported by the staffer who had called the child helpline.
“At this point in time, the teachers wish to remain anonymous for the fear of being targeted but they have expressed their intention to fully co-operate with all efforts to secure justice,” says the complaint.
Sources confirmed that the principal was arrested on January 31 based on the statements given by students. However, he got bail on February 1. Following registering of the case, the KV Sanghatan has sent him on long leave.