Guwahati, Aug. 10: The principal of a city school was arrested today for molesting two students.

The 30-year-old accused, Bishnu Nath Dutta, was arrested from his rented accommodation at 2 Matghoria in the Noonmati police station area late last night and a case (number 202/05) registered against him under Sections 342/354 IPC.

Police said guardians of two students of Classes II and IV lodged a complaint at the Noonmati police station on August 5 alleging that the two minors were sexually harassed by the principal at his residence on July 9.

?We were supposed to produce the accused in the court today but could not do so as the court was adjourned because a former chief justice had passed away. He will be produced in court tomorrow,? a police official said.

The police said the principal of Saraswati Vidya Niketan, a primary school in Matghoria, allegedly called the two students to his residence on the pretext of giving them tuition and molested them.

One of the girls is an 8-year-old while the other is 10.

The complaint said the principal even offered the girls money and promised to help them pass their examination in an attempt to cover up his crime.

?The girls have told police that he had also threatened them with dire consequences if they said anything about the incident to anyone,? the police source said. ?The girls were terrified at the abnormal behaviour of their teacher and did not share their harrowing experience with anyone.?

Soon after the incident, Dutta left for his hometown in Bihar during the summer vacation.

?After a few days both girls somehow mustered enough courage and told their parents about the incident. They subsequently informed the police,? the official said.

The incident has evoked sharp reactions from the residents of the locality who have demanded stern action against the accused.

The police said after returning form Bihar the accused went missing when he came to know that a complaint has been filed with the police against him.

?We arrested him last night when he came to his rented house to collect some of his belongings,? the police source said.

The residents of the area, along with some women?s groups, recently called a meeting to condemn the beastly act by the teacher and decided to step up pressure on the police and the governing body of the school to take action against the accused. The people alleged that they had heard similar complaints against the principal earlier too.