Patna, Sept. 1: The alleged harassment of nine girl students at Aliganj village in Rohtas district has taken a U-turn with prime accused Manish Kumar claiming that the incident was a fall-out between two families.

Manish, who was taken on police remand for interrogation from Sasaram divisional jail from August 29 to August 31, told police that the girls had never faced any untoward incident as alleged before representatives of the National Commission for Women and its state counterpart.

Police today said the accused claimed that he had a dispute with classmate Sandip Kumar, who was allegedly envious of the former’s performance in examinations. “Sandip and I studied together up to Class VII at St RBS School, Aliganj. I always stood first in the class. Sandip’s sister also studied with me. I used to help her in her studies,” he reportedly told the interrogators.

A resident of Amrita village, Manish got enrolled to Raj Rajeshwar High School at Suryapura, where Sandip and his sister also studied. “I secured 67 per cent marks in the matriculation examination. I had supplied notes to his sister, who also secured good percentage,” Manish added.

He alleged that Sandip’s sister was shifted to her relative’s house in Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh, by her family after they came to know about their relations. The matter was settled between the two families and Manish was shifted to Patna, where he was admitted to polytechnic college in Patna City. The matter turned worse when Sandip allegedly threatened Manish to teach him a lesson a few months ago.

Rohtas superintendent of police Manu Maharaj said the chargesheet in the cases lodged with Bikramganj and Suryapura police stations has been submitted in respective courts. State women commission chairperson Kahkashan Parveen said: “We are yet to get the latest update from the police. We want a fair investigation into the incident. We have talked to the victims, the accused and their parents as well.”