UP teacher, supported by principal and another teacher, molests 18 girls: cops

Shahjahanpur: A computer teacher of a government-run school in Uttar Pradesh’s Shahjahanpur district allegedly molested at least 18 girls, police said.

Mohammad Ali was arrested on charges under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, the IPC and the POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act.

The principal and an assistant teacher of the secondary school located under the Tilhar police station face similar charges for looking the other way while Mohammad Ali allegedly assaulted his students, NDTV reported.

Police said on Sunday that both teachers were ‘supporting’ the accused as he went about with the crime.

‘Case of sexual harassment of minor girls in Tilhar police station of Shahjahanpur. As many as 18 girls have been sexually abused and are to be X-rayed today. The accused has been arrested,' news agency ANI quoted Senior Superintendent of Police S Anand as saying.

Tilhar Circle Officer Priyank Jain confirmed that Mohammad Ali who is a computer teacher used to molest minor girls studying in the school.

Jain added that Ali was supported by the principal Anil Pathak and another teacher Sajia.

The village head Pradhan Lalta Prasad filed a complaint against all the accused at Tilhar police station, according to the report.

As the assault was happening in the school, one of the girls confided in her parents of her and other girls’ experiences.

Some parents raided the school, ending up discovering used condoms from the school’s toilet.

The education department suspended the principal and the assistant teacher.

Uttar Pradesh minister Baldev Singh Aulakh said ‘strict action’ will be taken against all the accused in the case.

Referring to the fact that most of the victims belong to Dalit community, the minister said ‘we respect all castes and communities’.