A 14-year-old girl was allegedly groped by the husband of the school principal of Telangana State Social Welfare School, in Hyderabad’s Gowlidodi.
The incident allegedly took place in October last year but came to light only now, after the girl finally mustered the courage to speak up about it.
On May 1, the girl’s mother filed a complaint with the Gachibowli police against the accused Damodar.
According to the complaint, Damodar, who stayed in the same school along with his wife, Pramodini, forcibly hugged the student and attempted to touch her inappropriately.
After receiving the complaint, a case was registered under POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act against Damodar.
Meanwhile, Damodar has been evading arrest and remains at large.
Speaking to TNM, Gachibowli Inspector M Gangadhar said, “We have formed teams to nab the accused. We will arrest him soon.”
After this incident of alleged sexual harassment came to the fore, it is learnt that the authorities have placed the school principal, Pramodini, under suspension.
Meanwhile, child rights activist Achyuta Rao, from Balala Hakkula Sangham, has demanded strict action against the accused.
Achyuta alleged that the accused was serving as the principal of a private school.
In an appeal to the State Human Rights Commission, he said that the wife of the accused, Pramodini, should be registered as the co-accused in the case, as she failed to protect the girls in the school from her predatory husband.
“Besides arresting the couple, the Commission should intervene and shift the existing staff in the interest of the minor girls,” he told TNM.
“A high-level enquiry is required as there are officials who are trying to hush-up the issue. There are allegations that several children were sexually abused, so a high-level committee should probe the case. The staff presently working should be shifted immediately as they are deliberately downplaying the issue,” Rao added.