DHARMAPURI: The headmaster of a government high school was arrested by the police on Saturday for allegedly abusing the school children.
Chinna Mathu, the headmaster of the school in Mattiyampatti, had allegedly abused the children by using the obscene language and touching girl students inappropriately. The incident came to light after the students lodged a complaint with ChildLine.
A past student of the school had sent a picture to ChildLine, of the headmaster holding a child by the waist.
Following that, ChildLine conducted an inquiry in which the HM claimed to have not done such things with bad intention. However, ChildLine took the issue to the Education Department. Natraj, District Education Officer, inquired and found the headmaster guilty. After a departmental inquiry, the Chief Education Officer K P Maheshwari lodged a complaint with the Superintendent of Police J Loganathan in this regard.Following that, the Dharmapuri All Women Police Station registered a case under various sections of the Protection Of Children From Sexual Offences Act. The police arrested him and produced him in the Dharmapuri Mahila Court. Meanwhile, the Education Department issued suspension orders against him.
Speaking to Express, Shine Thomas, director of ChildLine, said, “In March, Sakthivel, a teacher in Solapadi village, was arrested for abusing a girl sexually. Similarly, last year a teacher was arrested in Perumpalai for marrying his student. All these complaints were registered with ChildLine.”
He asked students and parents not to hesitate to lodge complaint and said anonymity will be maintained.