Cuttack, Jan. 16: A high school teacher was arrested here today for allegedly sexually abusing a six-year-old girl student.

The accused has been identified as Prashant Kumar Nandi (38), was physical education trainer at the Joharimall High School in Ganesh Ghat. The teacher was taken into custody after the parents of the victim lodged a complaint with the Lalbag police station.

Quoting the complaint, inspector-in-charge of the police station P.K. Jena said the accused had locked the student in a classroom and later molested her on Thursday. As the school was closed on Friday due to Makarsakranti, the victim’s father brought the matter to the notice of the school authorities on Saturday. Nandi has been arrested on under Sections of 342 (wrongful confinement), 354 (outraging modesty), 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.

Nandi had joined as a physical education teacher recently at the school. The incident has sparked off tension among local residents who are demanding stern action against the accused.

“We learned about the incident after the father of the child came to the school and brought the matter to the notice of school authorities. It’s shameful that a teacher can do such a thing with a child. He should be given exemplary punished so that others would not dare to do such a thing,” said local resident Ranjan Parida. “It’s a matter of concern for all of us. The guilty teacher must be punished,” said Jagabandhu Parida, another resident. The accused was produced in a local court today.