Kendrapara: Tension gripped Tarapada Kunja Behari Uchha Bidyabhavan of Kansar Badadandua GP Thursday as hundreds surrounded the school demanding the arrest of a physical education teacher for allegedly raping a Class 10 student October 26.
The protesters also demanded the arrest of the headmaster for forcing the parents of the survivor to suppress the matter.
IIC Manoranjan Choudhury of Mahakalapara police station who is also the in-charge of Tantiapala marine police station said the father of the survivor, lodged an FIR alleging that PE teacher Bidyapati Jena used to ask his daughter Priya (name changed) to meet him privately. He said his daughter always used to ignore the requests of the teacher.
October 26, the teacher told Priya to come with him for participating in the Suravi programme being held at Binapani High School. But Priya refused to go with him.
Later, Headmaster Kailash Chandra Rout asked Priya to come to his office and forced her to go with the PE teacher to attend the programme.
He assured Priya that there was nothing to worry, and allegedly threatened her that he would fail her if she did not obey his orders.
As she was threatened by the headmaster, Priya went to participate in the Suravi programme with the PE teacher.
The programme ended at 4 pm, and the headmaster told Priya that the PE teacher will drop her at her house. But Jena delayed matters, and when Priya started crying he took her on his motorcycle.
As Priya and the teacher were returning on the bike, he allegedly told the girl near Milanmoda that he wanted to marry her. Later the teacher raped her, the survivor’s father said in his FIR.
The accused also threatened to kill her by throwing acid at her if she disclosed the matter to anybody.
The teacher fled on his bike leaving Priya near Milanmoda. After reaching her house she told her parents what happened. Her father took up the matter with the headmaster.
“Headmaster Kailash Chandra Rout gave me Rs 1 lakh and asked me to suppress the matter. The headmaster told me not to lodge an FIR against the PE teacher. When I refused and returned the money, the headmaster threatened to kill me,” said the survivor’s father.
Thursday, hundreds of people of Kansar Badadandua GP came to the school protesting against the heinous act of the teacher. They also blamed the headmaster for attempting to suppress the matter.
The people demanded the arrest of the teacher and the headmaster, and Rs 10 lakh as compensation for the survivor.
District education officer Kalpana Behera directed Mahakalapara BEO Ajay Kumar Parida to submit an inquiry report.
Parida said he met the survivor’s father, the headmaster and the girl. The girl just cried and did not say anything. But the headmaster and the survivor’s father gave statements in writing.
The preliminary inquiry report said the teacher had raped the minor and that he had confessed before the headmaster. “I have submitted the inquiry report to the Kendrapara DEO Thursday,” said the BEO.
DEO Kalpana Behera said she suspended Bidyapati Jena for raping the student.
She said action would be taken against the headmaster as he should have sent a lady teacher with girl students when they go to participate in the Suravi programme.
The allegation that the headmaster tried to suppress the rape if proved would also result in action, DEO Behera said.
Tantiapala marine police registered a case under Section 376 (II)(n), 506, 341, 354, 354(a) of IPC and Section 4 of the Pocso Act.
Meanwhile, the PE teacher is absconded. The survivor’s medical examination will be held Friday, IIC Choudhury said.
PNN