Koksara, March 13: Tension prevailed at Government Upgraded High School in Kendudangari under Baradanga panchayat of the block in Kalahandi district after locals shut down the school Friday over the issue of alleged misbehaviour by a Sanskrit teacher with a Class VIII girl.
Angry over the non-arrest of the accused teacher, villagers locked the school when classes were under way Friday. The agitated villagers have declared to suspend classroom activities in the school till the teacher is arrested. “We will continue our protests till the accused teacher is put behind bars,” said school management committee president Manoj Kumar Naik on behalf of the villagers.
Sources said the incident took place Thursday afternoon after the accused Sanskrit teacher Soumyaranjan Padhi called up the girl to a secluded place and misbehaved with her. As the girl resisted his advances, the accused allegedly reprimanded her of punishment if she disclosed the matter before anybody.
Undeterred and unfazed by the teacher’s threat, she narrated her ordeals before a friend. Later, the duo told the matter to a lady teacher who subsequently informed the headmaster.
After the headmaster Ratnakar Shabar came to know about the incident, he called up the Sanskrit teacher and enquired about the matter. When the headmaster asked the Sanskrit teacher about the matter, he kept mum on the issue, Shabar said.
Tension erupted as the news spread in the village with residents demanding action against the teacher. The headmaster told the villagers that higher officials have been informed about the incident and assured them of appropriate action against the teacher after inquiry.
After the school was opened Friday, villagers went to the school and asked the headmaster about the steps taken to deliver justice to the victim. The headmaster told the villagers that he has informed the police and officials of education department about the complaint.
However, the villagers locked the school dissatisfied with the headmaster’s response and held a discussion with the school authorities to normalise the situation at the school.
Meanwhile, police reached the spot and took the complainants and some villagers for questioning in connection with the case. Police said they have registered a case in this regard and the accused teacher, who is absconding, would be arrested soon. However, education department officials feigned ignorance when asked about the incident. “I have no idea about misbehaviour by a Sanskrit teacher with a Class VIII girl of Kendudangari High School. The school authorities have not intimated any officials of education department,” said assistant block education officer Jagadis Singh.PNN
