Seven more students complain against teacher for inappropriate behaviour at the time of skipping rope activity; accused remanded to eight days police custody
MARGAO
The sexual harassment incident involving a school student by the Physical Education teacher of a government high school, Fatorpa in Quepem took a new turn with a number of students coming out to lodge complaints over the inappropriate behaviour of the arrested government high school teacher Ramesh Gaonkar.
The teacher, who was arrested by the Cuncolim police, has been remanded to eight days police custody for the purpose of further investigations.
After the Cuncolim police took the Physical Education teacher in custody for alleged sexual harassment of a young student, seven more students are believed to have come forward to lodge their complaints against the teacher for inappropriate behaviour.
Students are believed to have alleged that the teacher used to look at them inappropriately at the time of skipping rope activity in the school. The students also complained that the teacher used to allegedly share pornographic videos with the minor girl students from his personal mobile phones.
A woman rights activist, who was present when the victim school children were being questioned, has maintained that the teacher used to sit at the last seat of the bus while going out for practice session and was allegedly watching porn.
“Most of the girls have complained of the inappropriate behaviour of the teacher. The Cuncolim police are investigating into the complaints. Right now, eight students have lodged their complaints against the PE teacher,” the activist informed.
Sources said the PE teacher had joined the school only in the current academic year in June last. While sources say the PE teacher was in the eye of a storm during his posting at Molcornem and Ambaulim in the past, Cuncolim police station in-charge, PI Tukaram Chawan has informed that the police has not come across any such information yet.
Locals, however, pointed out that the Cuncolim PI Chawan should play a proactive role in the investigations by building a foolproof case by ascertaining whether there are any past complaints against the teacher at his previous posting. “When allegations are being made about the teacher’s past incidents at Molcornem and Ambaulim, it is the police duty to gather the evidence to help build a strong case in the instant case,” remarked a local.
What the FIR states
FIR registered against the teacher under Section 354(A) and 509 of the IPC, under section 8(2) of the Goa Children’s Act, under section 12 of the POCSO Act and under section 67, 67(A) of the Information Technology Act, 2000
The complaint lodged by the girl student alleged that the Physical Education teacher of the government high school, Fatorpa has intentionally caught hold of the victim’s hand thereby outraging her modesty
The FIR further stated that the accused further committed an act of watching the minor girl students at the time of skipping rope activity in school with the intention of outraging the modesty of minor students
The accused further allegedly shared pornographic videos to the minor girl students from his personal mobile phone thereby violating the privacy of the minor girl students of the school
Women’s rights activist demands thorough probe
MARGAO: Saying the school children are the future pillars of the society, women’s rights activist Auda Viegas wondered what kind of a teacher is the accused if he is involved in spoiling the future and career of these small children.
Appreciating the patience displayed by the villagers, Auda suspected that the teacher is being protected by a godfather.
Saying the teacher in question is unfit to teach in schools in view of the complaints lodged by the students of the government school, Auda said the police should thoroughly investigate the matter and take the case to its logical conclusion.
