School teacher arrested for 'marrying' minor student
Taderu (Andhra Pradesh) (PTI): A 46-year-old school teacher and father of two daughters was arrested here for allegedly 'marrying' his minor student, a 15-year-old girl, said a police official on Friday.
Police arrested K Somaraju on Thursday, Hindi teacher of Yandagani Zilla Parishad High School near Bhimavaram in West Godavari district for luring the girl under the guise of love and 'marrying' her by tying a sacred thread around her neck, police said.
"Somaraju courted the minor girl for four months and gave his smartphone to her. Recently, he picked her up from her house, took her to his house and married her," West Godavari District Disha (women's protection wing) DSP N Murali Krishna told PTI.
After allegedly manipulating and marrying the girl on November 19, Somaraju forcibly kept her with him for a couple of days and consummated the 'marriage'.
However, Krishna said the girl managed to escape from his clutches to return home in Yandagandi village and informed her family about the ordeal.
Later, accompanied by her father, the 10th standard student approached the police and lodged a complaint against her Hindi teacher.
Police arrested Somaraju, whose wife abandoned him seven years ago, and filed a case under IPC Sections 376, 342 and 506.
Police also booked him under Sections 5 & 6 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) Act and Section 9 of the Child Marriage Act.
The DSP said Somaraju will be produced before a Judge later Friday.
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Dakshina Kannada: Two girls drown while bathing near Kolyadakatta dam in Kadaba
Mangaluru: Two girl students drowned while bathing near the Kolyadakatta dam area of the Gundya river on Friday evening here in the Kadaba Taluk of the district.
The deceased have been identified as Arpita (15) and Sunita (21), both residents of Vimalagiri in Kutrupadi village.
According to reports, five girl students had visited the river along with their friends as it was a holiday. While bathing in the river, the two students reportedly entered a deeper portion of the water without realising the depth and began drowning.
Those accompanying them tried to rescue the duo, but were unsuccessful, leading to the tragedy.
After receiving information about the incident, Kadaba Police Station personnel visited the spot and conducted an inspection. The bodies were later recovered with the help of local residents.
