Teacher Accused Of ‘Sexually Harassing’ Minor In Srinagar Denied Bail

By M Ahmad

Srinagar- A court here has denied bail to a private tuition teacher accused of sexually harassing a 10-year-old girl at a suburb here in March this year.

According to police, on 14 March this year, a complaint came to be lodged by the father of the minor girl that his daughter, who is studying in class 3rd, is being sexually harassed by a tuition teacher identified as Abdul Wahid Bhat of Chanapora Srinagar.

Accordingly, police said, a case (FIR No 14/2023) under sections 12 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act was registered and during investigation the statement of the victim was also recorded and her medical examination was also conducted.

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“..the heinousness of the offence the accused is charged increases since the victim is a small child of 10 years while the accused is a mature man and also a teacher to whom the parents of the minor victim and the victim herself had reposed trust,” said Aarti Mohan, Presiding Officer Fast Track Court For POCSO cases Srinagar.

“The tender age of the victim also makes her vulnerable to any threat or intimidation which she may be subjected to in case the accused is admitted to bail, moreso, when her evidence is yet to be recorded,” the court said while rejecting bail application of the accused teacher Abdul Wahid Bhat of Chanapora, Srinagar.

Earlier the accused had submitted that he is a private teacher by profession and has been falsely implicated in a frivolous case. His counsel said that the arrest has adversely affected his personal, familial and social life, as the “arrest tantamount to attaching a stigma to the good will of the alleged accused.”

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