21 Aug 2024: Akola (Maharashtra)
Amid the nationwide outrage over the Badlapur child abuse tragedy, another disturbing incident has come to light in Akola district, Maharashtra, where a 42-year-old schoolteacher was arrested late Tuesday for repeatedly molesting six Class 8 students while showing them pornographic videos. The accused, Pramod Sardar, had been sexually exploiting his students for four months on the premises of the zilla parishad school in Kazikheda hamlet, Balapur taluka, about 40 km from Akola city.
A case was registered on Tuesday against a 47-year-old government school teacher in Maharashtra's Akola district after several girl students accused him of harassing them by showing obscene videos. This incident emerged amidst ongoing protests over the alleged sexual abuse of two kindergarten girls at a school in Badlapur, near Mumbai. The teacher, who is employed at the Zilla Parishad school in Kazikheda, has been detained for questioning, according to a police official.
The FIR, lodged at Ural police station, states that six girl students reported the teacher had been showing them obscene videos over the past four months. The police official noted that further investigation is currently underway. The crime came to light when the girl students contacted the Child Welfare Committee via its toll-free helpline. Following this, members of the Committee visited the school on Tuesday morning, spoke to some of the girls, and subsequently, a case was registered.
According to the complaint filed by the girls, Sardar would show them obscene videos on his mobile phone and then touch them inappropriately. The abuse was exposed after a complaint was made to the child helpline, though the identity of the complainant was not disclosed. Sources suggest that the survivors gathered the courage to call the 1098 helpline. Following the complaint, members of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) visited the school on Tuesday. To avoid raising suspicion, the CWC members conducted an hour-long session at the school and informed the principal that they wished to speak to the Class 8 girls individually.
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This is a developing story.
With inputs from agencies
Image Source: Multiple agencies
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