Latur principal arrested after weeks on the run
For weeks he stayed one step ahead of the police. On Wednesday night the founder and principal of a school in Latur, who is accused of sexually harassing minor girl students was finally taken into custody.
The 54‑year‑old man had been missing since October 4 the day the police registered a case against him at the MIDC police station under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the strict Protection of Children from Sexual Offences or POCSO. He hid after and police have been looking for him ever since.
Several police teams spread out across Maharashtra to find him checking places like Udgir, Omarga, Pune, Panvel and Palghar an official said. Their hard work paid off when he was caught late on Wednesday. Police persistence finally succeeded.
POCSO is the law India uses to protect children under 18 from abuse and exploitation. It sets penalties for offenders and requires investigators and courts to treat young victims with care. It also keeps their identities secret, which is why no details about the students have been shared.
The case has hit a nerve because the accused ran the school himself. Parents trust schools to keep children safe. Students need to know they can speak up if something goes wrong.
The allegations have not yet been examined by a court. The accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Police have not said anything, about the complaint.
