Baripada, April 7: Police have arrested Madhusudan Mahanta, the headmaster of Gudialbandha High School, who is also the superintendent of the girls' hostel at Badasahi, on charges of sexual harassment.

The integrated tribal development agency manages the girls' hostel. As Mahanta is the most senior teacher in the government-run school, he has been given the charge of being both the headmaster as well as the hostel superintendent. However, a hostel inmate said he had allegedly shown obscene gestures towards them.

The accused was produced before court today after being charged under sections 354A and 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the Indian Penal Code and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.

The hostel inmates had been complaining about Mahanta's alleged misbehaviour, which included obscene words and gestures. The students and their parents had blocked the road connecting Udla and Baripada yesterday for six hours, demanding action against the headmaster.

Later, the local block development officer, block education officer, assistant district welfare officer and the police officials had intervened in the situation and assured the agitators of prompt action against the accused. Mahanta was taken into custody after district education officer Minaketan Mangaraj had lodged an FIR against the accused.

The agitators alleged that they had complained to the district authorities earlier about the teacher's misbehaviour, but no action was taken. On Sunday, a two-member inquiry committee had found the allegations to be true and recommended strict action against Mahanta.

The district education officer has also recommended suspension of the headmaster, an education department official said.

Betnati sub-divisional police officer Diren Chandra Nanda said: "The accused headmaster has been produced before court today. The hostel inmates alleged that he had been harassing them sexually."