Punjab school principal arrested for sedating, raping 11-year-old; minor critical

The accused has been identified as Anuj Vasudeva, the headmaster of a government school in Arnyala Shahpur and a resident of Hoshiarpur.

In Short

• Police said alleged incident occurred on August 11 near cremation ground
• Formal complaint was filed on August 27, prompting police investigation
• Minor undergoing hospital treatment; her condition reportedly remains unstable

A government school principal in Punjab’s Hoshiarpur district has been arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting an 11-year-old student of his school, with police saying the incident took place on August 11 and a formal complaint was lodged more than two weeks later on August 27.

The case has triggered serious concern over the safety of children in educational institutions, with the accused facing charges under provisions of the POCSO Act and other applicable laws.

According to police, the case was registered at Mahilpur police station following a written complaint received on August 27. The alleged incident took place in the Arnyala Shahpur area, near a cremation ground, on August 11.

The accused has been identified as Anuj Vasudeva, the headmaster of a government school in Arnyala Shahpur and a resident of Hoshiarpur.

As per the complaint, the accused allegedly took the minor girl in his car between around 1.30 pm and 2.30 pm and drove her to an area near the cremation ground.

The complaint further claims that he gave the girl a white-coloured intoxicating pill before sexually assaulting her. It is also alleged that the child suffered injuries during the incident.

A particularly disturbing allegation in the complaint is that when bleeding from the girl’s private parts reportedly continued after the alleged assault, cotton wool was placed over the injured area and secured with tape. The allegations are part of the complaint and are subject to investigation and judicial scrutiny, the police said.

Police have invoked Section 65(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and Section 376AB of the Indian Penal Code, as cited in the case records.

The accused was arrested following the registration of the case and was subsequently produced before a court, which reportedly remanded him to judicial custody. The minor is undergoing treatment at a hospital, where her condition has been described as unstable.

The matter has also drawn questions from members of the Hoshiarpur District Bar Association.

Advocates PS Ghumman and Shamsher Singh Bhardwaj questioned the circumstances in which police officials arrived to record the child’s statement without female personnel accompanying them.

Allegations were also raised concerning the handling of the matter at the hospital. Hospital staff, however, reportedly said their duty shift had changed, and they were unaware of the circumstances.

Locals also called for strict action if the allegations are established, stressing that teachers are entrusted with the safety and guidance of children. The incident has raised renewed concerns among parents about the protection of students in schools.

The police investigation is now expected to focus on the victim’s statement, medical evidence, forensic material and other circumstances surrounding the alleged crime. The accused will have the opportunity to defend himself through due legal process, while the allegations will ultimately be tested before the court.

- Ends
Davindar Kumar input