SRIVILLIPUTHUR: A 14-year-old girl immolated herself, unable to bear the sexual harassment from her former school teacher at T Krishnapuram village in Virudhunagar district on Saturday.
Jothi (name changed), who sustained 90 per cent burn injuries has been admitted to the Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH). Meanwhile, the Watrap police arrested the teacher, Chandrasekar (24), from the same village.
Jothi, a Class 8 student in the Panchayat Union Middle School in the village was walking near her house on Saturday morning. It was then that Chandrasekar, who followed the girl closely, intercepted her. He gagged her and forcefully took her to the village public toilet, where he allegedly sexually harassed the girl, said the police. “As soon as she reached home, Jothi set herself on fire,” added the police.
Jothi’s father, who was in tears at the GRH said, ”It was not the first time my daughter has faced sexual harassment from Chandrasekar”.
Chandrasekar worked as a trainee teacher in the Panchayat Union Middle School at T Krishnapuram last year. While teaching in Class 8, he attempted to misbehave with Jothi. “The teacher proposed to the girl and forced her to accept his proposal. When Jothi refused, he threatened to tarnish her image among the villagers,” said police.
However, Chandrasekar continued to harass the victim. Jothi complained to her parents, who in turn took up the issue with the school authorities, following which Chandrasekar was dismissed from the school, the girl’s father said. Despite this, he continued to follow her.
After getting a confession statement from Jothi, the police booked Chandrasekar under Section VIII of the Prevention of Children against Sexual Harassment Act. The culprit has been remanded in judicial custody.
Doctors at the GRH said that the victims condition was highly critical. The girl’s father, a daily wage worker, who was saddened at the course of events said, “Now, I am also very scared to send my younger daughter to school. The school authorities may have suspended the teacher, but they must be careful while appointing the teachers”.