Visually challenged sixth standard girl sexually abused: Teacher gets six years’ rigorous imprisonment

KOZHIKODE: A POCSO court in Kozhikode has sentenced a teacher to six years’ rigorous imprisonment for allegedly sexually abusing a sixth standard student here.

The court also ordered that the State government pay Rs 2 lakh to the student within one month.

The amount should be deposited in her bank account and the interest of the amount should be used for the educational needs of the student. According to the complaint, the student with 75% visual disability had been subjected to sexual abuse from 2016 to 2017.

The incident was brought to the notice of the school authorities by other students in the school. First, an inquiry was conducted at school-level. Later in 2017, the principal lodged a complaint with the police and a case was registered against the accused.

As the case had teachers and classmates of the victim as strong witnesses, the court ordered the stringent punishment, according to sources. “The incidents of teachers sexually abusing the students are on the rise and this should be prevented by awarding harsh punishment to accused,” Kozhikode POCSO court judge K Subhadrama clarified in the order.