Kolkata: A dance teacher of a prominent girl’s school in Kolkata was arrested for allegedly sexually harassing a Class 2 student for the last six months, police said. The accused was charged under sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act after the girl’s mother lodged a complaint with the police. The mother came to know that her daughter was being sexually harassed when the child refused to go to school. The child revealed that she was being harassed by the teacher after the mother prodded.
Angry parents demanding action against the accused teacher gathered in front of the school. They also alleged that there are no closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras inside the campus and questioned the presence of male teachers in a school meant only for girls. Authorities deployed policemen at the school to tackle the situation. Two police officers were injured in a scuffle with the agitating parents.
State education minister Partha Chatterjee said the government would look into the matter if there were lapses on the part of the school. “There are safety guidelines laid down by the state government. The school authorities should also keep a vigil that such incidents do not take place,” Chatterjee said.
“It’s despicable. Are there CCTV cameras to keep an eye on what’s happening? It’s all the more necessary where girls study,” the minister added.
School authorities did not issue any statement but Sudeshna Ray, a member of West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights, said they did not deny the allegation and were “sympathetic to the victim and her family”. Earlier, two teachers of another private school in south Kolkata were arrested for sexually assaulting a four-year-old in December last year.
