Keonjhar, Aug. 6: The headmaster of a government-run high school has been accused of molesting a Class X girl student on the school premises at Danar in Nandipada area of the district.

Police have registered a case against Duryodhan Jena, 48, the headmaster, who is absconding. The victim’s father has filed an FIR, according to which, the incident took place on Friday morning, when the accused called the girl to his office and allegedly molested her there on the pretext of checking her fever.

“Around 9.30am on Friday, Jena called the victim to his office. He was alone in his office, and only a few students had turned up by then. He asked the girl why she had been absent for two days. The girl told him that she could not attend the classes as she was suffering from fever. After that, Jena allegedly put his hand inside her dress and touched her private parts on the pretext of checking her fever,” inspector in charge of Nandipada police station Priyaranjan Satpathy said, quoting the complainant.

The accused also allegedly threatened the girl, stating that she would fail in the tests if she reported the matter to anyone, the complaint stated.

On returning home, the girl had narrated the incident to her parents, who approached the school managing development and committee on Saturday. However, the management did not respond to their charges, and subsequently, they informed the police yesterday.

“The girl’s father has lodged a complaint against the headmaster. We are trying to trace the accused, who is absconding from his village,” said the police.

The incident has sparked off tension among local residents, who are demanding stern action against the accused.

Keonjhar district education officer Krushna Chandra Nayak said the matter had not been brought to his notice.