In an incident belying the sacred image of teacher-student relationship, a teacher of a Government school in Angul district had to resign from his job following uproar over his alleged offending comment towards a girl student.
According to reports, teacher laxminarayan Prasad Bhujabal (37) of the Patakamunda High School in Chhendipada block of the district had made the controversial remark on December 18 last.
While a Class-VIII girl of the school offered Pranam to the teacher after prayer, he reportedly responded her with “Raise up darling, I love you”.
The girl told about the incident to her parents, following which they raised the matter at Gram Sabha. Other villagers alleged that Bhujabal had earlier also behaved in a similar way to several girls.
later, a meeting was held at the school premises being attended by school managing committee members, headmaster and over 250 villagers where Bhujabal confessed his mistake and apologised by prostrating and bending on knees.
However, that wasn’t enough for the villagers as they made Bhujabal re-apologise in the presence of the Additional District Education Officer (ADEO) and the Block Education Officer (BEO).
The villagers and parents of the girl demanded ouster of Bhujabal, following which the teacher submitted his resignation letter to the DEO via the BEO.
“Action will be taken as per an inquiry report on the incident by the BEO. However, the way the villagers treated the teacher was wrong. No one has the right to take law into his own hand. If the teacher files an FIR against the villagers, police would take action,” said Additional District Collector Srinibas Behera.