After a high school teacher in Odisha’s Angul district allegedly told “Darling, I love you” to a class VIII girl student, the teacher was made to prostrate in front of the girl and seek an apology. He was later forced to resign. The teacher named Laxminarayan Prasad Bhujabal (37) was an assistant teacher at a school in Chhendipada block. He was forced to prostrate in presence of the villagers on Thursday.
The incident took place on December 18, when the Class VIII girl bowed down her head after the prayer. But the teacher came to her and reportedly had said, “Rise darling, I love you”. The girl then narrated the incident to her parents, after which they raised the matter at the gram sabha.
Other villagers alleged that Bhujabal earlier too had behaved in this way with many other girls. A meeting between the sarpanch and the school management committee took place where the teacher pleaded guilty. The Block Education Officer was also present at the meeting wherein Bhujabal was forced to resign.
“Action will be taken after the Block Education Officer submits a report on the incident. However, the way the villagers treated the teacher was wrong… If the teacher files FIR against the villagers, police will take action,” said Additional District Collector Srinibas Behera as per a report in Indian Express.
