Another FIR against primary school head

The police have registered a second FIR against a 54-year-old headmaster of a Government Primary School in Assandh block for allegedly sexually assaulting minor students of Classes II to IV. The fresh case was filed on the complaint of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) chairperson, who, after counselling 10 girls, found similar allegations that had earlier been made by another student.

The first FIR was lodged on Thursday under the POCSO Act on the complaint of a family member of a minor girl, and later sections under the SC/ST Act were added. The issue surfaced when a girl reported the harassment to her family, leading to police action. During counselling by CWC chairman Umesh Chanana, 10 more girls, aged between six and eight years, accused the headmaster of inappropriate acts.

The accused, identified as Dayanand, has been arrested in both cases. “We have registered two FIRs against the accused. One was registered on the complaint of a family member of a minor girl under the POCSO and SC/ST Act. The second was registered on the complaint of the CWC chairperson against the same person for sexually assaulting 10 more girls. So far, 11 girls have come forward,” said Ganga Ram Punia, SP.

Meanwhile, the Education Department has suspended the accused.

“Dayananad has been placed under suspension with immediate effect as per provision of Rule 5 of Haryana Civil Service (Punishment and Appeal) Rules, 2016. During the period of suspension he will be entitled to subsistence allowance under Rule 83 of Haryana Civil Services (General) Rules, 2016, as applicable to the state of Haryana,” said District Elementary Education Officer Rohtas Verma in the suspension letter.

His headquarters will be in the Block Education Officer, Karnal. He has been barred from leaving the headquarters without prior approval.