Headmaster-Pandara Valappil Saithalavi- held for molesting students

Headmaster held for molesting students

http://expressbuzz.com/states/kerala/headmaster-held-for-molesting-students/261907.html

KOZHIKODE: Pandara Valappil Saithalavi, the headmaster of an upper primary school in Tirur was arrested on Friday on charges of molesting school kids. Saithalavi, 48, a native of Chamravattom, was taken into custody on Friday afternoon. A case has been registered against Saithalavi under Section 354 and 377 of the Indian Penal Code, P Vahid, DySP, Tirur, said.

An investigation into the incident following a tipoff received by DIG S Sreejith resulted in the arrest.

The DIG, who reached Tirur to investigate the incident, said that the police would investigate whether more persons were involved in the crime. The case had been registered based on the statement of two children, he said, and added that more students would be questioned in the coming days.

On receiving the tip-off, the police entrusted Mahila Samakhya, an NGO that works in collaboration with the Education Department, to investigate the incident. A group of Mahila Samakhya workers led by state coordinator Seema Bhaskar counselled the students of the school, of which 30 children were subjected to sexual assault by the headmaster.
According to the police personnel, the students were reluctant to reveal the fact even to the parents.

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