After nearly a month on the run, Pramod Kumar Mahanta, a senior teacher at Pratimadeipur Government Upper Primary School, was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly molesting several minor girls in his classroom.
The arrest follows a formal complaint lodged by the school’s headmistress on July 28, detailing repeated incidents of inappropriate behaviour masked as “affection.” Mahanta reportedly used social influence and financial leverage to suppress the victims’ voices until one student confided in her family.
Upon initial allegations, the Betnoti Block Education Officer suspended Mahanta immediately. However, he fled before police could apprehend him and even sought anticipatory bail from the High Court. A dedicated police team tracked him down and arrested him on Tuesday afternoon.
He has been booked under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Following medical examination, Mahanta was produced in court as per legal protocol.
The case has sparked renewed calls for stricter vetting of school staff and swift action against child abuse in educational institutions.
