Balangir, Sept. 21: A primary school teacher in the district has been dismissed from service for sexually harassing three students.

Block education officer of Balangir Prashanta Kumar Joshi issued an order of dismissal to Bana Bihari Rath, headmaster in charge of Bhutiarbahal Primary School, yesterday.

Joshi said he had inquired into the case and found strong evidence against the teacher. “Rath used to call the three girls to his room every afternoon and sexually harassed them. He had been earlier put under suspension for eight times in connection with various other cases, including that of killing his wife and other harassment incidents in other schools. District collector M Muthu Kumar and school and the mass education secretary Usha Padhee also recommended his dismissal. Accordingly, I issued his dismissal order yesterday,” said Joshi.

Last month, Tusra police arrested the teacher and sent him to judicial custody on charge of alleged sexual assault on the three girls.

The accused is a history sheeter and has been suspended eight times before.

It was alleged that Rath had been making sexual advancements towards the three students of the school.

On August 8, the students returned home during the recess and told their parents about the incident.

The parents, along with other villagers, stormed the school and directly charged the teacher. But, Rath dismissed all the allegations.

Enraged at his obstinacy, the women of the villages thrashed the teacher and locked him in a room. Later, the police arrested Rath after a complaint was lodged against him.

He was sent to judicial custody after a Balangir court had rejected his bail plea.

Joshi said he had also recommended dismissal of Bigyan Budek, a science teacher of Nodal Primary School. He was charged of meting out corporal punishment to three Class VII students of the school.

“I have recommended his disengagement,” he said.