Kendrapara, Oct. 6: An assistant sub-inspector (ASI) of police was arrested today for allegedly molesting a married woman in Deogaon village within Rajkanika police limits, about 55km from here.

“The accused, Sridhar Mahallick, who is posted at Rajkanika police station, was arrested following a complaint lodged by a 37-year-old homemaker. The culprit was booked under Indian Penal Code sections 354 (outraging of modesty) and Section 354A.

He was produced in the court of judicial magistrate first class in Aul.

Later, he was sent to jail after the court rejected his bail,” said Rabi Narayan Behera, superintendent of police Kendrapara.

The matter was probed under the supervision of a sub-divisional police officer. The probe found veracity in the complaint lodged by the victim.

The case was handled in an unbiased manner. The complaint was treated on merit though a police officer stood as an accused, Behera said.In her complaint, the woman alleged that the police officer trespassed into her house in the absence of family members and molested her. The cop had gone to her house in connection with investigation of a case.

The incident had occurred on September 17 and an FIR in this connection was lodged on October 4.

Headmaster on run

The headmaster of a government-run primary school at Soro in Balasore is absconding after a Class VI student brought allegations of sexual assault against him.

After making preliminary investigations, Simulia police produced the 11-year old-victim in a Soro court yesterday for recording her statement. She alleged that Bijay Nayak, 50, the headmaster of BJ Primary School, had been misbehaving with her on the school premises for several months and molested her in his office on September 21.

The girl’s mother, a resident of Nuagaon, who lodged an FIR a few days ago, said she learnt about the incident almost 10 days after it took place. Block education officer, Bijay Nayak, said: “I will conduct an inquiry and submit a report to the district education officer for necessary action.”

Local residents staged a demonstration yesterday by locking the school gates.

They alleged that Nayak had the support of a political party and had a history of committing similar offences. Therefore, they demanded immediate arrest of the headmaster. Inspector-in-charge of the Simulia police station Premapragya Mohanty said a case had been registered against Nayak. Sub-divisional police officer Satyanaryan Panda said all efforts were on to nab Nayak.

Additional reporting by Sibdas Kundu in Balasore