Villagers in Mangaluru’s outskirts express anguish over delay in arrest of teacher accused in POCSO
Mangaluru: Residents of Kallamundkur village express dismay over the delayed arrest of a teacher accused of sexual harassment at the local government school under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
The incident came to light when the school's Headmaster lodged a complaint at Moodbidre Police Station on March 13 against the accused teacher, Guruva Mogera, a resident of Dharmasthala in Belthangady taluk. The complaint alleged that Mogera had sexually harassed female students of the school on February 28. Subsequently, a case was registered against him under the POCSO Act at the Woman’s Police Station in Mangalore.
An inquiry was conducted by officials from the education department, child welfare authorities, and officers from the Woman’s Police Station. During the inquiry, students provided written testimony against the accused teacher.
Former President of the Old Students Association, Dhananjay, criticized the police department for negligence in apprehending the accused. He also noted the reluctance of locals to take further steps, attributing it to the support Mogera receives from his own caste community. Dhananjay emphasized that no group or community should shelter a criminal who has harmed children.
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Reports from local media indicated that Mogera was freely moving around the village even after a case was filed against him on March 14. This prompted the police and other concerned departments to intensify efforts to locate the accused, who had gone missing.
Dayanand, another member of the community, highlighted that even former students had come forward to accuse the teacher of sexual harassment. He criticized the delay in the arrest, attributing it to what he perceived as the police department's negligence.
In response to the concerns raised, Panambur Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Manoj Kumar Naik assured that police teams were actively working to apprehend the accused. Naik stated confidently that Mogera would be arrested soon.
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Sambhal violence: Prohibitory orders issued, outsiders barred from entry till Nov 30
Sambhal (UP) (PTI): The district administration has imposed prohibitory orders and barred the entry of outsiders till November 30 after three men were killed and scores of others, including security and administration personnel, injured in a violence by protesters opposing a court-ordered survey of a Mughal-era mosque.
The order has been issued under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), said District Magistrate Rajender Pensiya late on Sunday.
"No outsiders, other social organisations or public representatives will enter the district border without the permission of the competent officer," said the order, which came into force with immediate effect.
Violation of the order will be punishable under Section 223 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the BNS.
Violence broke out in the district on Sunday as protesters opposing the survey of the Jama Masjid clashed with security personnel. The protesters torched vehicles and pelted the police with stones while the security personnel used tear gas and batons to disperse the mob.
Divisional Commissioner (Moradabad) Aunjaneya Kumar Singh said on Sunday, "Shots were fired by miscreants... the PRO of the superintendent of police suffered a gunshot to the leg, the circle officer was hit by pellets and 15 to 20 security personnel were injured in the violence."
A constable also suffered a serious head injury while the deputy collector fractured his leg.
"Three people, identified as Naeem, Bilal and Nauman, have been killed," Singh said.
Twenty-one people, including two women, have been detained and a probe has been launched, the official had said, adding that those accused in the violence would be booked under the stringent National Security Act (NSA).
District Magistrate Rajender Pensiya said, "The casualty count stands at three. The reason for the deaths of two is clear -- bullet wounds from countrymade pistols. The reason for the death of the third person is not clear but it will be after post-mortem."
Internet services were soon suspended in Sambhal tehsil for 24 hours and the district administration declared a holiday in all schools for Monday.
Tension had been brewing in Sambhal since November 19 when the Jama Masjid was first surveyed on the court's orders following a petition claiming that a Harihar temple had stood at the site.
Trouble started early on Sunday when a large group of people gathered near the mosque and started shouting slogans as the survey team began its work.
District officials said the survey could not be completed on Tuesday and was planned for Sunday to avoid interference with afternoon prayers.
Supreme Court lawyer Vishnu Shankar Jain, who is a petitioner in the case, had earlier said the Court of Civil Judge (Senior Division) ordered the constitution of an "advocate commission" to survey the mosque.
The court has said a report should be filed after conducting a videography and photography survey through the commission, he had said.
On Sunday, Jain urged the Archaeological Survey of India to take control of the "temple".
Gopal Sharma, a local lawyer for the Hindu side, had earlier claimed the temple that once stood at the site was demolished by Mughal Emperor Babur in 1529.
