Coming close on the heels of nearly two back-to-back molestation/rape attempts in Pauri and Kotdwar, a teacher has been accused of molesting a Class XII student at Jaharikhal under lansdowne Tehsil. Police said that a case under some sections of Indian Penal Code and POCSO Act has been registered against the teacher on the basis of the complaint lodged by the alleged survivor. However, the accused teacher is now on the run, police said, adding that he could not be found at his residence at Bijnor in Uttar Pradesh.
Senior superintendent of police Pauri Jagat Ram Joshi said that the case against the teacher has been registered in lansdowne police station. “The accused identified as Afjal Mehboob Khan, resident of the Nai Basti, Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh, went on medical leave and is still absconding. The survivor said that the Commerce teacher had molested her on September 19. The principal of the college was informed, but no action has been taken by the college administration. There were only three students for the Commerce class,” he said.
It is learnt that the principal of the college had informed the incident to the Chief Education Officer for action, but the department has been allegedly maintaining a stony silence since. Queried over the matter, the chief education officer MS Rawat said that on receipt of the complaint of the principal, two committees have been constituted to probe the allegation.