Chennai: Govt school teacher molests class 5 girl, arrested

Chennai: A 40-year-old male teacher was arrested on Monday on charges of sexually assaulting a 10-year-old student in neighbouring Tiruvallur district. The suspect has been identified as Srinivasan, an assistant teacher at a Panchayat Union High School, in Tiruvallur.

The horrific incident came to light when doctors examined the girl after she swooned from pain at her residence.  

As per the advice of doctors, the parents preferred a complaint with Tiruvallur Police who registered a case under section 354A (sexual harassment) of the IPC and section 10 (punishment for aggravated sexual assault), 9 (f) (whoever being on the management or staff of an educational institution, commits sexual assault on a child in that institution), and 9(k) (whoever, taking advantage of a child's mental or physical disability, commits sexual assault on the child) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences(POCSO) Act, 2012.

On October 20, Srinivasan had isolated the student in the pretext requesting her assistance in the staff room, which was at his disposal. He sexually assaulted the child there and threatened her with dire consequences if she revealed it to anyone.  The girl kept it to herself and distanced herself from her friends and family.

Her parents' efforts to find out what happened may have led to her newfound aloofness. On Sunday, the child collapsed at her house and was rushed to a neighbouring hospital where the doctors established that the child was sexually assaulted. Subsequently, a complaint was lodged and the suspect was picked up. Srinivasan was being remanded to judicial custody.