School principal arrested for alleged sexual harassment of students in Arunachal Pradesh

Small students in Arunachal Pradesh filed a joint complaint against their principal.

Itanagar:

A government school principal was arrested in Arunachal Pradesh on Thursday for allegedly sexually harassing students. Muhammad Asgar Ali, principal of Government Secondary School (GSS) in Gautampur, was arrested following a joint complaint by students of mental harassment, implicit or explicit threats, blackmail and sexually explicit comments.

On October 2, police received the complaint in which students described repeated inappropriate behavior and sexually explicit comments from Mr. Ali and the impact thereof. The principal’s behavior had caused them “tremendous anxiety, frustration, insomnia, powerlessness, fear and forced us to lose confidence and self-esteem, social withdrawal and isolation, suicidal thoughts and attempts, increased absenteeism from school to avoid harassment,” the officials said. students. with the complaint.

A Grade 7 student was reportedly called by Mr Ali to clean his room in exchange for financial help and the promise of a mobile phone.

A class 10 student is said to have received messages like ‘I love you’, ‘Poranna’ (meaning lover) and ‘I miss you’. “He called me at midnight, pressured me to visit his room, and one day even held my hand in an attempt to force me to go to his room. He threatened to abandon me if I didn’t comply,” the student said.

The principal has also been accused of using derogatory language during school hours – in class and in the morning assembly – and uttering communal slurs.

“We are investigating the matter. We have arrested the principal (I/C) of the school. We have also recorded the statements of the victim students. Further investigations are underway,” Changlang District Superintendent of Police Kirli Padu told ANI.