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Sexual abuse

Teacher Arrested for Sexually Harassing 21 Girl Students in Tamil Nadu

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

A government school teacher was arrested on the intervening night of Thursday and Friday for allegedly sexually harassing 21 girl students, all aged between 12 and 15 years, in the Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu. The incident came to light during an awareness programme on sexual abuse conducted by police personnel at a government school near Ooty, where a Class VI girl student reported that the science teacher, M Senthilkumar, had touched her inappropriately.

Key Takeaways:

  • 21 girl students, aged between 12 and 15 years, accused their science teacher, M Senthilkumar, of sexual harassment at a government school near Ooty.
  • The teacher, 50, was posted at the school recently and had taught at various schools across the state.
  • A case was registered against Senthilkumar under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) and he was arrested at midnight on Thursday.
  • Senthilkumar was later produced before a judicial magistrate in Ooty and lodged in jail under judicial custody.
  • The district superintendent of police, N S Nisha, has been conducting regular awareness programmes at schools to educate students on sexual abuse.
  • The awareness programme, which has been ongoing for the past two years, has held 2,500 sessions at schools in the district this year and 3,000 in 2024.
  • The programmes have provided clarity to students and encouraged them to come forward with complaints, with one or two cases reported during previous sessions.

Statistics:

  • 21 girl students accused their teacher of sexual harassment.
  • The teacher was 50 years old.
  • 2,500 awareness programmes were held at schools in the district this year.
  • 3,000 awareness programmes were held in 2024.
  • The district has been conducting awareness programmes regularly for the past two years.

Sources:

  • "A gov't school teacher was arrested near Ooty on the intervening night of Thursday and Friday for sexually harassing 21 girl students." (Source: _Times of India_)
  • "After the session, a Class VI girl student approached the team, saying that science teacher M Senthilkumar, 50, had touched her inappropriately. Another 20 girl students, all aged between 12 and 15 years, also came forward with similar accusations against the teacher." (Source: _Times of India_)
  • "District superintendent of police N S Nisha said they had been conducting regular awareness programmes at schools to educate students on sexual abuse, both within and outside the schools. 'This initiative has been going on for the past two years. We have held 2,500 such programmes at the schools in the district so far this year, against 3,000 in 2024. During the previous awareness programmes, one or two cases were reported. However, this is the first time 21 cases against a single teacher have been registered.'" (Source: _Times of India_)

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