School ordered to close following unrest over alleged rape in Arunachal

Itanagar: A district administration in Arunachal Pradesh has suspended the registration certificate of a private school at Geku and ordered its closure following public unrest over the alleged rape of a seven-year-old student by a primary school teacher.

In view of the unrest, the Deputy Director of School Education (DDSE), Yingkiong visited Geku on the direction of the Upper Siang district administration on Thursday, an official report said.

The DDSE was also asked to make arrangements for the immediate admission of the 284 affected students of the Liitung Liimang Public School to nearby schools, it said. The accused teacher used to teach social science and computer up to Class-III in the school for the last two and a half years. He was also the warden of the junior boys hostel, the report said.

The teacher allegedly raped the student following which he was attacked, the school building was ransacked and a vehicle damaged by agitators on Monday, following which the teacher was admitted to a hospital, Upper Siang SP (in charge) Doge Jini said.

The principal of the school was also arrested for his attempt to shield the accused, the SP said. The incident came to light when the school was opening after Solung festival and it was time for the boarders to return to school.

The victim expressed her reluctance to return to the school making her parents suspicious. The child later narrated her ordeal to her parents, police said.