six-year-old girl molested by school teacher in Kolkata
A six-year-old student of a government-run school was allegedly molested by a teacher in its premises last month, following which the accused was arrested, police said Tuesday. Education Minister Partha Chatterjee said the state government has sought a report from the school about the alleged molestation and the damage to school property by agitating guardians. The police had a tough time controlling the victim's family members who tried to force their way into the school, located in the southern part of the city, Deputy Commissioner of Police (southeast division) Kalyan Mukherjee said. According to the DCP, 10 police personnel, including two officers in-charge of Gariahat and Lake police stations were injured in brickbatting by the protesters. The police had to use batons to disperse the agitators and three people were arrested for attacking the personnel of the force and destroying public properties, he said. Asked about the lathicharge on the protesters, Mukherjee said the police took the step to save themselves and public properties. The accused, he said, was arrested and booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 and a probe was initiated against him. The school authorities were not available for comments. Chatterjee, the state education minister, said the department will also find out the circumstances behind the incident in its own probe and strictest action will be taken against the teacher if the charges against him were proved. He also condemned the damage of school property by a section of guardians and said steps would be taken if outsiders were found to be involved in the ransacking. Ananya Chakraborti, chairperson of the West Bengal Child Rights Commission, said the police investigation would be closely monitored. "We will follow-up the investigations conducted by the police. We will also see whether the police are carrying out proper investigation or not," Chakraborti said. When contacted, chairman of the Sarva Shiksha Mission Kartik Manna said, the state government and the education minister would take a decision on the victim's parents' demand for employing only women teachers in the school. PTI
