Monday, September 5 2005 17:08 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Siliguri: With teachers being honoured across the country on Teachers Day today (Sept 5, 2005), a principal of an ICSE residential school in West Bengal's Darjeeling district is in the custody of the police for allegedly sexually abusing a Bangladeshi girl student.

The girl, a student of Class IX of the school at Pankhabari Road in Kurseong subdivision, during rehearsals for the pre-Teachers Day programme on Saturday went onstage and began shouting that the principal had allegedly sexually abused her and warned students to be aware of him.

The student, who had received her transfer certificate and was to return home to Bangladesh with her parents, alleged that on the night of August 13 the principal, Bobby Chachan had visited the girl's hostel saying that he loved her and had sexually abused her.

As soon as the victim made the allegations before stunned senior students and teachers, Chachan fled to his chamber and bolted himself in, the police said. The teachers and students asked the principal to clarify his position in view of the girl student's allegation, but he did not stir out of his room.

Students then broke the windowpanes of his office and called in the police. Inspector General of Police, North Bengal, K L Meena said that the teacher was arrested and later on the girl and some students were questioned.