Nishant Saxena

In a deeply disturbing incident that has shaken the community, a staggering number of 123 students from a government primary school in the Shamshabad block of Agra district have made a bold decision to refrain from attending classes. Instead, these students, accompanied by their concerned parents, took a brave step forward by directly heading to the district court to provide their testimonies. Their unified purpose: to shed light on the alleged molestation and physical abuse inflicted upon them by their teacher.

Within this group, approximately 35 students ranging from grades 6 to 8 stepped forward to make the shocking claims against their teacher. These young individuals expressed their firm resolve to return to their educational institution solely after their accused teacher is brought to justice. As evidence of their traumatic experiences, five girls among them had their statements recorded in court, recounting the instances of molestation they endured at the hands of the teacher over the course of two long years.

The gravity of the situation became apparent on May 16, when the concerned parents, joined by child rights activist Naresh Paras, promptly notified Police Commissioner Preetinder Singh about the harrowing ordeal their children had been subjected to. Consequently, an FIR was promptly registered against the assistant teacher in question, a 49-year-old named Ashutosh Sharma, at the Shamshabad police station. The charges filed against him encompass sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, as well as IPC sections 32 (voluntarily causing hurt), 35 (using force with intent to outrage a woman’s modesty), and 506 (criminal intimidation).

As news of the incident spread, the local basic education teacher assigned to the school disclosed that the accused teacher had already been suspended from duty. The education authority also acknowledged that a formal complaint had been previously lodged with both the police and department officials, highlighting the alleged misconduct, but regrettably, no decisive action had been taken at that time. Moreover, it was revealed that the accused teacher had a history of inappropriate behavior, including urinating in public and even carrying a revolver, which served to instill fear among the vulnerable children.

Assistant Commissioner of Police, Suarbh Singh, has provided confirmation that the authorities have indeed registered an FIR and that the children’s testimonies have been officially recorded by a magistrate during a thorough CrPC 164 investigation. It is expected that the accused teacher will be apprehended in the near future, ensuring that justice is served for the young victims who have bravely come forward to shed light on the appalling mistreatment they endured.

The incident serves as a distressing reminder of the crucial need to prioritize the safety and well-being of students within educational institutions, demanding immediate action to prevent such horrifying incidents from recurring in the future.

Also Read: 7-Year-Old Allegedly Slapped by Teacher: Traumatized Girl Refuses to Attend School