Team Herald
PONDA: Former students of Kundaim Government High School on Saturday morning protested in support of teacher Manoj Fadte (58), who was arrested on charges of molestation, but now is out on bail.
The former students alleged that the school headmaster and counsellor hatched a conspiracy against Fadte and got him arrested on false accusation of molestation.
As the protest was getting out of control, a large police force was deployed in the school to maintain order.
The students demanded to meet the headmaster, but he refused to meet them. The students demanded that the chief minister order a thorough inquiry into matter.
Some of the protesting former girl students said, “Fadte is working in the school for fourteen years; he was also having charge of the school for two years and his behaviour was good.”
Teacher Fadte was arrested by Ponda police on Thursday on charges of molesting five girls. Following his arrest, the locals alleged that the accusation against Fadte was a conspiracy and that the school administration was using innocent children against the teacher. They further alleged that the school administration got some illiterate parents sign on a statement, the contents of which they did not know.
It is learnt that the parents of the alleged victim girls have written to the headmaster stating that their children were never molested by Teacher Fadte.
“Despite this letter, the headmaster and counsellor complained to police against Fadte for vested interest,” a villager said.
DySP Sunita Sawant, who was present at the school to maintain law and order, said that teacher Fadte was arrested after the Vishaka Committee conducted an inquiry into the case.
She was assisted by PI Prajot Fadte in maintaining law and order.
