Post News Network
Sambalpur/Burla, Jan 8: Police Thursday arrested a 47-year-old professor of Sambalpur University on the charge that he attempted to rape a Class-VII student of Burla in Sambalpur district.
The accused was Khagendranath Sethi, professor of History department. The arrest followed a complaint from the girl’s family, police said, adding a case has been registered under relevant sections of IPC, relating to protection of children from sexual offences (POCSO). An investigation was progressing.
The accused and the victim were medically examined at the VSS Medical College and Hospital in Burla and the professor was produced in a court. The incident triggered sharp reaction in the district. Students of the university, in a fit of rage, burned the effigy of the professor at the campus. “The indecent act of the professor has hurt the reputation of the university and the teacher profession,” they said.
Police said the parents of the victim had gone out January 4 for some work. The professor went to the residence of the girl and pressed the calling bell. He allegedly tried to force himself on her. The victim raised an alarm and the professor ran out, as per the case.