Post news network
Kudumullugumma/Malkangiri, April 7: In yet another incident of sexual harassment at school, a shikhya sahayak in Malkangiri district allegedly raped a girl student after drugging her.
The incident took place at the Kasturba Gandhi Girls’ School at Parkanmala in Kudumullugumma block March 29. However, the accused teacher has not been arrested so far despite a complaint being lodged by the victim. The district education department has sent the teacher on deputation to a school in Badapada, which is situated in a cut-off area. The victim, a Class VII student, was staying in the hostel, according to the report.
The teacher, Prashant Kumar Moharana, had called the girl to his chamber March 29 and asked her to rub his head. However, he drugged her and later raped her. After two days, the victim lodged a written complaint regarding the incident with the headmaster, who forwarded the letter to the district welfare officer.
Thereafter, the administration started an inquiry into the incident. District child welfare committee chairperson Sanjukta Pradhan said the allegation was found to be true. The collector has also directed the superintendent of police to conduct probe into the matter. SP Mitrabhanu Mohapatra said police would conduct a probe into the incident in compliance with the direction issued by the collector and take stern action against the accused teacher.
DWO Santosh Rath said that both the welfare department and the child welfare committee have conducted an inquiry into the incident and submitted their report to the SP. Rath said he has recommended to the administration that the accused teacher be sacked and that disciplinary action be initiated against the headmaster.
