Male teacher sexually harasses boy, held!

After the sexual abuse case at a Yerawada-based orphanage, another case of child sex abuse has come forward at a place of learning. This time, it is at a religious minority institution.

A 14-year-old boy has complained that his Urdu teacher forced the student to massage his legs and hands in a private room. He alleged that the teacher touched his private parts and passed lewd comments and sordid gestures for a fortnight.

Mustering courage, the boy confided in his parents who lodged a complaint at Kondhwa police and the 24-year-old Urdu teacher identified as Ustad Hafiz Riyaaz Mohammad Shadarealam Musa Shaikh (24) was arrested.

Shaikh hails from Darbhanga in Bihar and is currently residing in Kondhwa. A case has been registered under relevant sections of Indian Penal Code and also under the relevant sections of The Protection of Children from Sexual Offence Act. Sub-inspector Ashwini Patil is investigating the case.

Padharinath Patil inspector in-charge of Kondhwa Police station said, “Initially, the case was registered with Cantonment police as the victim’s parents reside in Camp. Later the case was transferred to us as the offence took place in our jurisdiction. The victim is studying in the institute for the past two years. The arrested teacher has been teaching Urdu for the past five months. After the sexual abuse began, the victim narrated the incident to his mother and later his mother consulted the issue with his father who is an auto-rickshaw driver. Later they approached us and lodged a complaint.”

Assistant police inspector Sunil Thopte said, “For the past 15 days, the Shaikh passed lewd comments and used vulgar gestures. Later, he started calling him in a private room and told him to massage his head and legs. Later he started touching the victim’s private parts. The boy remained quiet on one occasion, but later again the teacher started calling the boy and repeated sexually harassed him. Unable to bear the torture, the boy met his mother on Friday and narrated the incident.”

He added, “The boy’s medical examination has been conducted and a non-government organisation working on child rights is counselling him.”

Shaikh was produced before special judge Vinay Joshi and has been remanded in police custody for a day.