21 august 2024 : A school teacher has been apprehended in the Akola district of Maharashtra on allegations of molesting six female students and displaying inappropriate videos, according to police reports released on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, a formal complaint was lodged against Pramod Manohar Sardar, a 47-year-old educator employed at a government school in Akola, after several students accused him of harassment involving the exhibition of obscene videos.
This incident has surfaced amidst ongoing protests regarding the alleged sexual assault of two four-year-old girls at a kindergarten in Badlapur, located in Maharashtra’s Thane district.
The teacher, who is affiliated with the Zilla Parishad school in Kazikhed, was taken into custody following his detention for questioning.
Details from the FIR
According to the FIR filed at the Ural police station, six female students reported that the teacher had been showing them inappropriate videos over the past four months, as stated by an official from the news agency PTI. The police are currently conducting further investigations into the matter.
The situation was brought to light when the students contacted the toll-free number of the Child Welfare Committee. Committee members visited the school on Tuesday morning to interview some of the girls, which led to the filing of the case. Asha Mirge, a former member of the State Women’s Commission, has called for stringent action against the teacher.
Superintendent of Police Akolka Bachchan Singh informed the news agency ANI that the Akola Police received a complaint regarding the molestation of six schoolgirls by Pramod Manohar Sardar. The accused teacher was promptly arrested, and the statements of the victimized girls were recorded.
“Charges under sections 74 and 75 of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita and the POCSO Act have been filed,” SP Singh noted.
The investigation into this case is ongoing, he confirmed.
The principal of the school, Ravindra Samdur, stated, “There was an event at the school yesterday… After the event concluded, the teacher approached the students of Classes 7 and 8. A few girls, approximately four to five, reported that they had experienced harassment. It was only then that we became aware of the situation, as we had no prior knowledge of such incidents.”
Protests Erupt Nationwide Following the Rape and Murder of a Kolkata Doctor
This incident occurs in the context of widespread protests across the nation regarding the alleged rape and murder of a female trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on August 9.
The attack on a medical professional has caused significant alarm throughout the country.
Medical practitioners have demonstrated in various states, including Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu, advocating for justice and enhanced security measures for healthcare workers.
The case has been reassigned to the Central Bureau of Investigation from the state police, following a directive from the Calcutta High Court.