BARIPADA: The headmaster of a primary school in Mayurbhanj district was arrested on Monday for molesting a minor girl.The alleged incident took place in Anodla Project UP School within Bangiriposi police limits on Wednesday. The arrested headmaster was identified as 52-year-old Pratap Kumar Giri while the victim is a student of Class VI.
Sources said Giri allegedly called the girl student to his room on pretext of clearing her doubts on a subject and when other teachers were not present there. The headmaster allegedly molested the girl in the room. But as the girl screamed, Giri became terrified and released her following which she managed to escape.
After a few minutes, the headmaster again met the girl in the school and threatened her of dire consequences if she disclosed the matter to anyone. He further threatened the victim of failing her in the annual examination.
Following the incident, the girl refused to go to school and did not disclose the matter to her uncle in whose house she was staying. But when her uncle persisted to know the reason behind her not attending school, the girl narrated her ordeal before him on Saturday.
As Saturday was a half day and Sunday a holiday, the girl’s uncle waited for the school to reopen on Monday. On the day, a group of villagers including the victim’s uncle and grandmother went to the school and tied the headmaster to an electricity pole before thrashing him in full public glare.The minor girl also lodged a complaint with Bangiriposi police on the basis of which Giri was arrested. IIC Gobinda Chandra Behera said a case has been registered and the headmaster will be produced in court after necessary medical tests.