2 Odisha teachers held for sexually harassing girl

BALASORE: Two teachers of a school in Odisha's Balasore were arrested after a class 9 student accused them of repeated sexual and mental harassment during school hours over the past three months. Police detained the school headmaster for allegedly suppressing the matter. He was questioned for a few hours and let off on Monday.

One of the accused - a 43-year-old mathematics teacher - was arrested late Sunday. The second accused, a 41-year-old arts teacher, was arrested Monday, said Niranjan Behera, additional SP, investigative unit on crimes against women.

This comes less than a fortnight after a 20-year-old college student set herself afire on July 12 in Balasore on allegedly being denied justice in her complaint of sexual harassment against her HOD, triggering massive outrage from various quarters. She suffered 90% burns and succumbed on July 14. The accused teacher and college principal were arrested.

The 15-year-old schoolgirl's mother, in her police complaint filed Sunday, alleged that both accused would make obscene gestures at her daughter, touch the girl inappropriately, and ask her to meet them in secluded areas on the school premises. The teachers also threatened to fail her in exams if she disclosed the crime or resisted their advances.