Maharashtra: 49 school girls allege sexual harassment; two teachers booked

Akola (Maharashtra), Apr 2: Two teachers of a government school here were booked on charges of outraging the modesty of a woman, after as many as 49 girl students accused the duo of sexually harassing them, police said today.

The accused, identified as Rajan Gajbhiye and Shailesh Ramteke were booked last night under section 354(a) of IPC and Section 7 and 8 of Protection of Child from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) Act on a complaint filed by the principal of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalay, Ramavatar Singh they said.

On Tuesday, the aggrieved girls had approached Maharashtra State Women Commission member Asha Mirge with their complaint.

According to the statement given by two of the victims, the girls were being sexually harassed for long by their Chemistry and Biology teachers on the pretext of not granting them marks in Practical exams.

The girls alleged that both the teachers used obscene language, made sexual advances and tried to make physical contact with them following which they complained to the Principal, who called an emergency parents-teachers' meet on Tuesday after enquiring into the matter.

Meanwhile, Gajbhiye even tried to pressurise a girl into withdrawing her statement before he went absconding with Ramteke ahead of the parents' meet, they quoted victims.

Enraged with the incident, parents held a protest outside the police station here yesterday demanding strict action against the duo following which charges were registered against them.

Subsequently, District Collector Arun Shinde, SDO Sanjay Khadse and Women Commission member Asha Mirge visited the school and assured wards of early action.

PTI