Kekri- Girl students and villagers staged a strong protest outside the Government Senior Secondary School in Baghera village of Kekri on Wednesday, alleging that a teacher had molested and misbehaved with female students. The protesters raised slogans demanding the teacher’s resignation or immediate suspension and blocked the road for nearly three hours, forcing the administration to act.

A large number of students, including many girls, came out of the school and joined villagers in raising slogans of “Istiifa do” (resign). They said the girls had been facing the teacher’s inappropriate behaviour for some time and insisted that students have the right to study in a safe environment free from fear. The protesters demanded a thorough and impartial investigation and the immediate removal of the accused teacher from the school, arguing that his presence could pressure the victims and affect the probe.

Tehsildar, revenue officials, Kekri City police personnel and education department officers reached the spot. After talks with the agitating students and villagers, Education Officer Bahadur Singh Shaktawat announced that both the principal and the concerned teacher had been placed under APO (attached to personal office pending inquiry). Officials assured that further action would be taken on the basis of the investigation findings. The protest ended after about three hours once the students were persuaded to disperse.

The incident has triggered sharp reactions from the Opposition and student organisations.

NSUI National President Vinod Jhakhar strongly condemned the episode, saying: “News of molestation and atrocities against girl students in Rajasthan is extremely worrying. What bigger irony can there be that under a government that talks of ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’, the daughters of Rajasthan are not even safe in schools? The question is direct: whose responsibility is the safety of our daughters?”

Leader of Opposition in the Rajasthan Assembly, Tika Ram Jully, also hit out at the state government. He said the allegations of molestation levelled by the girl students of Government Higher Secondary School, Baghera, Kekri, are extremely serious and concerning. “The fact that a large number of girls came out in protest shows how sensitive the matter is. Chief Minister, when daughters do not feel safe even in school, what is the use of the ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ slogan? The Education Minister should not limit his school visits only to statements and photographs. He must also take care of the safety of daughters and their real problems. The administration must immediately listen to the girls with seriousness.”

The strong statements by NSUI and the Leader of Opposition have put the spotlight on the larger issue of girls’ safety in government schools in Rajasthan. The education department has ordered an inquiry, and further departmental action is expected once the findings are submitted.