Sopore, Apr 13 (NVI): Tension gripped a government school in Sopore town of north Kashmir on Monday after students staged a protest alleging sexual assault of a classmate by a senior lecturer.
A large number of girl students of Government Girls Higher Secondary School Sopore walked out of their classrooms, raising slogans and demanding strict action against the accused, claiming they felt unsafe within the school premises, eyewitnesses said.
The Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) has placed the accused lecturer under suspension pending inquiry.
An official order, the suspended teacher has been attached to Boys Higher Secondary School Badugam in Gurez, while the Joint Director (North) has been appointed as the inquiry officer and directed to submit a report within 15 days.
Senior Superintendent of Police Sopore, Iftikhar Talib, said that police have taken cognisance of the allegations and registered an FIR.
“Legal proceedings have been initiated and investigation is underway. Strict action will be taken as per law,” he said.
Officials said police teams are also engaging with protesting students to maintain law and order in the area.
Meanwhile, Additional Deputy Commissioner Sopore, S A Raina, said that academic activities in three educational institutions — Government Girls Higher Secondary School Sopore, Boys Higher Secondary School Sopore, and Government Degree College Sopore — will remain suspended from April 15 to April 18 as a precautionary measure.
The decision was taken to maintain peace following the protests over the alleged harassment incident, officials added.(NVI)
