The principal of a senior secondary school for girls in Jind, Haryana, has been accused of sexual assault by as many as sixty female students.
Kartar Singh, the accused, has been suspended by the state government following an investigation. He remains unaccounted for.
Investigating claims that two female students may have committed suicide as a result of the principal’s sexual assault is the Haryana State Commission for Women.
The media was informed by Commission Chairperson Renu Bhatia that the principal has been accused of sexual assault by sixty girls.
“We are also pursuing the serious allegations that two girls committed suicide because of the sexual assault by the principal.”
In a five-page handwritten letter to the National Commission for Women dated August 31, the victim girls claimed the principal had been harassing female students in a sexual manner with the assistance of a female teacher. They claimed the principal had his room’s window fixed with black spectacles.
Girls are sent by a female teacher to meet with the principal in his room. One of the girls complained that the principal touched them inappropriately and used foul language.
The principal allegedly harassed the primary complainant twice, and when she asked him to stop, he threatened to have her expelled from the school.
“The principal warned me to stand by him or else there would be serious repercussions. The girl said, “He had raped multiple girls.”
For its hearing, the state commission for women on Thursday summoned the accused, police officials, including the DSP heading the SIT constituted in the case, and officials of the Education Department.
“It is a matter of serious concern that an accused against whom such grave allegations have been made is still not arrested. The commission will take up the issue with the authorities in the government at the high level to take action against the police officials,” said Bhatia.
On October 27, the Haryana government suspended the accused principal upon the National Commission for Women’s intervention. Additionally, on October 31, the police filed a first information report (FIR) in accordance with Section 354 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which prohibits assaults intended to offend women’s modesty, and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.
