Sarsuna: Police arrested a teacher of a co-educational school in Behala's Sarsuna on Tuesday on the charge of sexually harassing a Class V girl.

Atanu Dasgupta, 49, who is on contract at the school, has been booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act based on a complaint filed by the girl's parents.

The charges deal with aggravated sexual harassment committed by a person in the management or staff in an educational institute and sexual assault committed on a child below 12 years of age.

The charges carry a maximum punishment of five years in jail and/or fine.

In their complaint with Sarsuna police station, the parents alleged that Dasgupta had demanded on Monday afternoon their daughter kiss him.

When she refused, she was threatened and she gave in because she was scared, they said in the complaint.

This is the third such complaint this month and the fifth in five months where employees or teachers of schools have been accused of sexually harassing students.

Anindya Dey, the teacher in charge of the school, claimed he wasn't aware of Dasgupta's arrest till the evening. "I don't have any information. I will be able to comment after reaching school on Wednesday," he told Metro.

"My son has been studying in the school for five years. I did my schooling from here. I cannot imagine something like this has happened here," a 48-year-old parent who lives in Sarsuna said.