TAXILA: Police on Wednesday booked a teacher for allegedly sexually harassing three primary school students in the jurisdiction of Pindigheb Police station.

The suspect, deputed at Government Primary Model School Dhoke Mound, Mianwala was exposed when one of the victims, 13, lodged a complaint against him. When he took the matter to the school administration, two more students lodged similar complaints against him.

A case was registered against the suspect by the father of one of the victims, who said that the incident happened when the teacher took the girls to his room while the other students took class in the courtyard. As per the first information report (FIR) another student witnessed the incident.

When contacted, spokesman of the district police said a case has been registered against the teacher under section 377-B of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and a hunt was launched to arrest him.

Ms Haseena, the head teacher, confirmed that she received a complaint by the parents of one of the students of the school and she informed higher education authorities for taking departmental action against the nominated teacher.

District Education Authority Chief Executive Malik Mohsin Abbas said there is a zero tolerance policy regarding harassment of students in Attock district. He said that the teacher was suspended from service and he would face action under the Punjab Employees Efficiency, Discipline and Accountability Act (Peeda) for sexually harassing minor students after completion of judicial and legal process.

He said there is no room for such psychologically sick teachers in the education department.

Published in Dawn, November 11th, 2021