Madarsa teacher accused of molesting minor, held

THE PARENTS OF THE MINOR GIRL APPROACHED ATARSUIYA POLICE AFTER SHE INFORMED THEM ABOUT THE HARASSMENT

PRAYAGRAJ: Atarsuiya police arrested a 50-year-old madarsa teacher for allegedly molesting an 11-year-old girl and forcing her to take off her clothes.

The parents of the minor girl approached Atarsuiya police after she informed them about the harassment. An FIR has been lodged against the accused under POCSO and other relevant sections of IPC, and he has been sent to jail, police said.

According to reports, the girl is a student of a madarsa under Atarsuiya police jurisdiction. The girl’s father, who does odd jobs for living, in his complaint claimed that the madarsa teacher was molesting his daughter for many days, but the girl kept quiet out of fear and shame. However, on Monday afternoon, the teacher again took her to another room where he forced her to take her clothes off and indulged in obscene acts with her.

The girl, somehow, escaped and reached her home crying and informed her parents about the harassment.

The victim’s father further alleged that the teacher was involved in doing obscene acts with other girl students of the madarsa too, but none of their parents had lodged a complaint out of shame and fear of the teacher. Taking immediate action, Atarsuiya police registered an FIR against the teacher and arrested him from his rented accommodation. Sub Inspector Vinay Singh said the accused is 50-year-old and hails from Bihar.

Meanwhile, some locals also tried to pressure police to release the teacher, who claimed that he had asked the girl to take off her jeans as it was not allowed to be worn at the madarsa.

Circle Officer (Baihrana) ASP Abhishek Bharti said primary investigations suggest that the accused was involved in molesting other minor girl students of the madarsa also and seems to be a habitual offender.

Parents of other girls will soon be questioned and will be asked to lodge complaints against the accused, he added.