School headmaster held on sexual assault charge

JAGATSINGHPUR: The headmaster of a government primary school under Naugaon police limits was arrested on Saturday after several girl students accused him of sexual harassment.

The allegations surfaced after a Class VII girl contacted the Child Helpline 1098 and reported the sexual harassment on February 17. The following day, a team from the Women and Child Development department visited the school and enquired with 15 students, who confirmed the allegations.

The school has around 35 students, including 22 girls, from Class I to VII. The school has only four male teachers and does not have any female teaching staff. The girls alleged the headmaster continuously harassed them during assembly, notebook checks, and classroom interactions. They were afraid to inform the incident to their parents fearing social stigma, and informed it to the Child Helpline.