School judo coach arrested for raping girl, molesting five

Class X student had complained about him in 2018 but the matter was hushed up

Tribune News Service

Updated At : 12:57 PM Mar 12, 2020 IST

Tribune News Service

Kurukshetra, March 11

The Kurukshetra police have arrested the judo coach of a school in Shahabad for allegedly raping and blackmailing a student and molesting at least five other minors.

The suspect has been identified as Gurmail Singh (27), a resident of Kishangarh village, who trains children from Class V to XII and other girls in judo. It is learnt that on March 9, the mother of the rape victim from Shahabad and some other parents approached the women police station and alleged that the judo coach of their children’s school, Gurmail, had been sexually assaulting, molesting and harassing their daughters.

They said Gurmail had made a Whatsapp group of the girls to remain in touch with them and repeatedly posted sent adult videos and pictures on it. Gurmail allegedly claimed he had some videos and photos of the students and threatened to post these on social media if the girls thwarted his advances.

Recently, Gurmail allegedly sent some adult videos and photos via Whatsapp to a Class VIII student that were seen by her parents instead. When they asked the girl, she told them that Gurmail had been harassing her for a long time, following which the parents contacted the principal. The principal summoned the coach, who came with his brother. While checking Gurmail’s phone, adult videos and photos of girl students were recovered.

A case under relevant sections of the POCSO, SC ST Act, and IT Act was registered against Gurmail at the women police station. He was arrested and produced before a court which sent him to judicial custody today.

Kurukshetra SP Astha Modi said, “Gurmail raped a girl, it was aggravated sexual assault. He also molested and showed pornographic material to at least five more minor girls. The girls, in their statement, have said their coach had been molesting them from a long time. They did not complain since he repeatedly threatened them. The role of more people, victims and negligence on the part of the school is also being investigated.”