TIRUNELVELI: A government school head master, who has been sexually assaulting a 9-year-old class V student for two months, was arrested here on Monday.
Police said Subramanian (53), a resident of Iravipudur in Kanyakumari district, was the headmaster of the government school at Soorangudi near Nanguneri in the district. Last Friday, two boys reportedly saw Subramanian sexually harassing the girl.
When the parents of the victim and other students came to know about it, they planned to stage a protest demanding action against the head master. On Monday, the parents and villagers thronged the school and demanded its immediate closure.
On information, Nanguneri All Woman Police police team, led by inspector Naga Kumari, reached the spot and promised immediate action.
Police investigation revealed that the girl had been assaulted since the beginning of the academic session this year (in June). When she protested against the abuse, Subramanian threatened he would fail her. “Subramanian reportedly assaulted a few other girls also, including some former students,” said a police official.
While the school has a total of 17 on rolls, four study in class V and two in class IV. Subramanian teaches these students and another teacher handles classes I to III, in which a total of 11 are enrolled. Subramanian used to send other students out to play and ask the victim to stay back. Later he used to assault her, said sources.
As the assault reportedly happened on the school premises, there is a possibility that the other teacher might be a witness. However, the teacher claimed that she was not aware of this and the students did not inform her of any such incident. Classes for I to III and IV to V are separated by a barrier, said sources.
AWPS Nanguneri booked cases under sections 342, 506 (i) and Protection of Children from Sexual offences act 2012. The victim has been sent to the Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital for tests.
Commenting on the issue, Shakila Banu, district Child Protection officer, told Express, “Now, the rate of sexual abuse against children is increasing. This is clearly because students and teachers have started reporting the incidents.”