THIRD TEACHER DETAINED AS POLICE PROBE ABORTION

LUDHIANA: Another teacher, besides the already-arrested duo, was rounded up for questioning after investigation in the case of rape and abortion of a Class-11 student at a government school in a village in Jagraon subdivision, on Friday. Meanwhile, a local court that remanded the arrested teacher and officiating principal to four days of police custody.

As for the teacher rounded up (all names withheld to protect girl’s identity), he allegedly helped the duo take the 16-year-old girl for abortion after the rape a year ago. Senior superintendent of police (SSP), Ludhiana Rural, Surjit Singh said, “We are questioning him, and involvement of more people in the case is likely.”

In the court seeking remand, police said they have yet to recover the mobile phones of the accused, in which a conversation (3 minutes, 50 seconds) about plans for abortion was purportedly recorded. This recording had reached another teacher over WhatsApp and led to the bust-up.

Police further claimed they were yet to know the nursing facility where the pregnancy was aborted. In the audio clip, the two are allegedly saying that they would make her fall and then rush her to a hospital on that pretext.

The victim has already recorded her statement before a magistrate. The crime was allegedly committed in the school library. The arrested teachers were booked for rape and criminal conspiracy under IPC, besides under POCSO Act, IT Act and SC/ST Act as the girls is a Dalit.