BICHOLIM
According to Bicholim police, the incident is reported to have taken place while the teacher, Umesh Fadte (49), and the student were returning after attending a prize distribution ceremony of a sports function at Mayem-Bicholim on March 1. Though the incident took place on March 1, the complaint was lodged by the girl’s mother at Bicholim police station on Tuesday, in the presence of an NGO.
Bicholim police said Fadte, a physical education teacher of Government high school at Shirgao-Bicholim, along with four schoolgirls and one lady were returning home from a prize distribution ceremony in Mayem on March 1.
Fadte first dropped three schoolgirls and a lady at Shirgao-Bicholim and then proceeded to drop the victim at her residence.
During the journey, Fadte is alleged to have touched the girl’s body and misbehaved with her. He then told the victim not to disclose the matter to anybody, police said.
The girl, however, reported the matter to one school teacher the next morning but no action was taken in the matter.
On March 3, the girl narrated the incident to her brother, who in turn, informed their mother. The mother promptly went to the school on March 4 and demanded action against the PE teacher. But when the mother realised that school authorities were reluctant to act in the matter, she filed a police complaint on Tuesday.
Acting on the complaint, Bicholim Police arrested Fadte under Section 354, of IPC, Section 8 of Goa Children’s act and Section 8 of POCSO act. The accused will be produced before the court on Wednesday for remand.
When contacted, Director of Education Gajanan Bhat said the department will send a report to officials concerned for necessary action.
