Indus Valley Times

By Surya Narayan Panda

Koraput, Dec. 7: Odisha police on Saturday arrested husband of a school headmistress on the charges of raping and impregnating a Class VII girl student.

The accused, Rajendra Rath, was arrested and produced before court, Jeypore sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) Varun Guntupalli said.

According to the SDPO Mr Guntupalli, the accused had been illegally staying at Phampuni Upgraded Upper Primary Sevashram School in in Koraput district.

During his frequent stays at the Sevashram, the accused developed physical relations with the girl.

“The girl was found three-month pregnant during a recent medical examination. Child welfare committee (CWC) members and district child protection officer (DCPO) counselled the girl. Later, the District Child Protection DCPO reported the matter and a case was registered at Jeypore Sadar police station in this connection,” the SDPO said.

“Investigation revealed that the husband of the headmistress had kept physical relations with her for the last five to six months and threatened her not to disclose the matter to anyone,” he added.

While questions are being raised over such illegal stay of the husband of the headmistress at the Sevashram, the family members of the minor girl demanded stringent action against the headmistress.

“We want strong action against the headmistress and her husband. The headmistress and her husband had assured us that they would look after my my daughter as her own since they had no girl child. For some time, they took my daughter to their home where we believe she was subjected to sexual exploitation. Now, we feel ditched,” said father of the student.