Vadodara: Principal of Dayanand Saraswati Ashram Shala in Narmada district came under the lens after an unidentified person contacted 181 Abhayam Helpline, alleging that he was physically exploiting female students of the school.
On receiving the complaint, officials of Abhayam visited the school on Saturday and counselled the students of class VII and class VIII. During counselling, four girls told them that principal Harshad Patel of the residential school had exploited them. The helpline officials then approached the senior police officials of Narmada district.
The girls were then taken to Garudeshwar police station, where they narrated their trauma. “The four girls have informed us that the principal used to call them individually and touch them inappropriately. It has also come to light that when the current academic year began in June, the principal went to the girls’ houses to take them to the school and on the way he asked the girls to come to his house by luring them,” assistant superintendent of Narmada police Achal Tyagi said.
Police officials also said that while talking to four girls, they also told that in the past, too, some girls had left the school due to Patel’s harassment. On the basis of girls’ statements, the police initiated the process of registering a case of violation of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
“We will book him under the sections which deal with aggravated sexual assault as he is a principal and there are provisions for more punishment,” Tyagi told TOI.
School in Narmada where Patel is principal
