Jashpur (Chhattisgarh): A government school teacher in this district of Chhattisgarh has allegedly raped a 13-year-old student following which she became pregnant, a police official said Sunday.
The accused, Rashid Anwar Khan, also allegedly forced the girl to undergo abortion at a private hospital with the help of his associate, the policeman added.
Khan, who worked at a government school located at a village in the district, is still at large while his associate Sukhlal was arrested Friday. He is being interrogated to find out the whereabouts of Khan.
The teacher and four other school staff members, including the headmaster, have been suspended while action has also been taken against three education department officials for alleged negligence of duty, another official stated.
As per preliminary investigation, the Class VII student was raped in the school premises two months ago. The accused also threatened the girl with dire consequences if she informed about the incident.
The girl recently complained of some health issues following which her parents took her to a hospital where doctors found that she was pregnant. When the accused came to know about the girl’s pregnancy, he took her to a private hospital February 22 and allegedly forced her to undergo abortion with the help of Sukhlal, police said.
The girl’s parents approached the police Friday following which a case was registered against the accused under IPC Sections 376 (rape), 506 (criminal intimidation), 313 (causing miscarriage without woman’s consent), 120-B (criminal conspiracy), and provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
Search was on for the teacher, the official said, adding that a probe was also underway into the role of the hospital where the abortion was done.
“After the incident came to light, the accused teacher was suspended. The school’s headmaster, two other teachers and a peon were also placed under suspension for alleged negligence in duty,” said a government official.
PTI