A Class VII student of a government middle school in Gopalganj was diagnosed three-month pregnant at a health camp organised by her institution.

Later, it came to the fore that a middle-aged man Naresh Madesia, who runs a tea stall near the school, has been sexually assaulting her for a while now.

The teachers of the school were taken aback when the health report of the 13-year-old girl was submitted to them on Monday. The school had organised the camp last week.

The report prompted the teachers of the institution to inform the girl’s mother.

Irked over the incident, the girl’s mother, along with some residents, demonstrated in front of the police station concerned and demanded immediate arrest of the accused.

Informed about the development, Gopalganj superintendent of police Anil Kumar Singh asked the station house officer (SHO) of the women police station to institute a case and initiate action against the accused.

The SP said the girl was medically examined at the sadar hospital on Tuesday, which confirmed that she was pregnant.

“Since the victim is a minor and has been sexually exploited, a case under Section 376 (rape) has been lodged against the accused,” Singh told The Telegraph over phone from Gopalganj.

He said the SHO of the woman police station Sarita Kumar has been asked to arrest the accused at the earliest.

Madesia, a father of three children, had lured the victim by offering her sweets and chocolates.

“The accused shut shop in a huff and fled soon after he came to know about the public outcry and that an FIR has been lodged against him,” Singh added.

Gopalganj district education officer (DEO) Suresh Prasad said he came to know about the incident on Tuesday when he returned to Gopalganj from Patna.

“I have sought a detailed report from block education officer Jitendra Kumar Singh. I will share details only after I get the report from him,” he added.

The BEO visited the school on Tuesday and inquired about the incident. He, however, refused to share anything about the findings. “I am not authorised to talk to the media,” he said.