The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Police teams on the look out for school principal

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Wednesday, Dec 20, 2006
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Police teams on the look out for school principal

Staff Reporter

He has been charged with molesting two girl students

TIGHT SECURITY: Police personnel standing outside St. Claret School in Bangalore on Tuesday. — Photo: Sreenivasa Murthy

Bangalore: A day after parents accused principal of St. Claret High School in Sharadambanagar in Jalahalli of having misbehaved with their wards and filed a complaint against him, the police have formed special teams to arrest him.

The principal, Fr. Mathew, is reportedly absconding since Sunday afternoon. Sources said he had gone to Sarjapura to attend a workshop where he heard about the case and has since been "untraceable". One of the teams has gone to look for him in Kerala, police said.

Fr. Jacob, principal of the St. Claret College, managed by the St. Claret Educational Society, said the molestation charges were baseless. "I do not know if he is guilty or innocent. I agree that the case should be investigated. What I do not understand is why the teachers should be targeted, why should the school property be damaged?" he asked.

He claimed though the school authorities had sought police protection, Archbishop Bernard Moras was manhandled by an angry mob that was protesting in front of the school on Monday. A case in this regard had been filed on Tuesday.

However, the police, who were present during the protest, said that no such incident took place. Prabha, a parent, said the school principal was a "good man" .

Security has been tightened at the school. Two platoons of the Karnataka State Reserve Police, three inspectors and 20 civil staff have been deployed.

Show-cause notice

Minister for Primary and Secondary Education Basavaraj S. Horatti on Tuesday said his Department would issue a notice to the Jalahalli-based St. Claret School, seeking an explanation why its recognition should not be withdrawn in view of the sexual harassment charges made against its principal.

Mr. Horatti told The Hindu over phone from Hubli that he had taken note of the incident and would ask officials to serve a show-cause notice on the school.

"Issuing a notice for derecognition is the most stringent measure the Government can initiate against a private school," he said.

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