Sexual exploitation allegation against school headmaster

Allegations of attempt to sexually exploit a Class VIII girl have been levelled against the headmaster of a residential school in Kandhamal district of Odisha.

According to Kandhamal District Child Protection Officer (DCPO) Rashmita Karan, the father of the victim filed an FIR on Monday against the headmaster of the residential school managed by the Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) Development Department of the Odisha government. No one had been arrested till Monday evening.

Victim to be counselled

Ms. Karan said apart from the police investigation, a parallel inquiry would also be taken up by her department. The victim would also be properly counselled so that she does not stop her education because of the incident.

As per the complaint filed by the victim’s father, she escaped a sexual harassment attempt at the hands of the headmaster on April 22. Around 2.30 p.m. on that day, the headmaster had called the girl home and engaged her in some domestic work. Later he attempted to sexually exploit her, the father alleged.

But the girl escaped from his clutches and ran out of the house through the backdoor. She did not return to her hostel room but reached the Daringbadi bus stand. There she was located by a relative who took her to her village.