POCSO case booked against government teacher in Telangana’s Siddipet

Move follows complaint by Class IX girls of Zilla Parishad High School that science teacher Kesugani Devaiah was sexually abusing them

Siddipet: A case under sections of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act has been registered against a science teacher after girl students of Class IX at the Zilla Parishad High School at Khammapally in Kondapak mandal complained to the headmaster that the 50-year-old teacher was sexually abusing them.

The students submitted a written complaint to the headmaster two days ago, with the same being forwarded to the District Educational Officer on Friday. The students complained that the Biology teacher Kesugani Devaiah forcibly hugged and kissed girl students in the science lab. Unable to bear the harassment, the victims approached the school management committee and the headmaster.

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Officials are inquiring into the complaint. Headmaster Srinivas Reddy said the school had received verbal complaints from the girl students earlier. Though he had warned Devaiah to change his behaviour, he failed to mend his ways.

Parents have demanded that the headmaster and DEO take stern action against the teacher. Meanwhile, the parents of the girls also lodged a complaint at Siddipet three-town police station. Inspector Vidyasagar and members of the She Team visited the school and took Devaiah into custody.

The students complained to the police that he had threatened to fail them in examinations if they exposed him. A probe is on.