In a shocking development amid the ongoing controversy over sexual abuse cases in Maharashtra, officials have arrested a 42-year-old schoolteacher in Akola district for allegedly molesting six Class 8 girls over the past four months.
The accused, identified as Pramod Sardar, reportedly forced the students to watch explicit adult films and subjected them to inappropriate touching at the Zilla Parishad school in Kazikheda village, located approximately 40 kilometers from Akola.
The disturbing revelations came to light when one of the victims bravely contacted the 1098 child helpline, prompting an investigation by the Child Welfare Committee (CWC).
Following the complaint, CWC members visited the school under the guise of conducting a session with students, where they spoke privately with the Class 8 girls.
During this conversation, the victims recounted the traumatic experiences they had endured.
Upon hearing their testimonies, the CWC promptly alerted local law enforcement.
“We received a call from a CWC member, and we dispatched a team to the school to record the girls’ statements,” explained Gopal Dhole, a police inspector at Ural police station.
Following this, police arrested Pramod Sardar and charged him under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act, along with other relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code.
School Principal Ravindra Samdoor expressed his shock at the allegations, claiming he was unaware of the misconduct.
“Had I known about it, I would have taken immediate action. It was only when the CWC team spoke to the girls that we learned of this heinous act,” he stated.
Asha Mirje, a former member of the Maharashtra State Women’s Commission, condemned the incident and called for stringent action against Sardar. She criticized the school staff, questioning how such egregious abuse could go unnoticed for so long.
This incident in Akola follows closely on the heels of a separate case involving the sexual assault of two four-year-old girls by a cleaning staff member at a school in Badlapur.
This earlier incident has sparked widespread outrage, leading to protests where residents blocked train services at Badlapur railway station on Tuesday.
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