The District Education Officer on Wednesday suspended the Headmaster of the Government High School at Haliya mandal, following complaints of his “sexual assault and misbehaviour with the girl children in the school”.
“He tells us to visit his office alone, and not in groups. He threatened us that he’ll give transfer certificates (TCs) if we complained about it to our parents,” the girls said.
The issue that has been going on for over a month now, came to light when girl students of Classes 8 and 9 submitted a petition to Mandal Education Officer T. Ramulu on Tuesday, when he was on a monthly inspection visit to the school. “We don’t want the Headmaster. Please remove him from the post,” said the letter, signed by all girls from Class 9.
Several other incidents of assault were reported through the letter, including inappropriate touching and sexual advances by the Headmaster. “It makes us feel sick and wanting to die,” they wrote.
Mr. Ramulu expressed shock over the incident.
“I visit the school regularly, this was never brought to my notice,” he said.
Inquiry initiated
Another letter was forwarded to the District Education Officer and the District Collector. The Headmaster has been suspended and an inquiry initiated.
The local police got the information on the issue after one of the students dialled ‘100’ and lodged a complaint against the HM. The police are waiting for the findings from the departmental inquiry, following which they would register a case relating to child sexual abuse, the Station House Officer at Haliya said. The Headmaster was unavailable for comment. It is learnt that he told the MEO that he was innocent and did not indulge in such activities.