Police have launched an investigation after a 78-year-old retired school headmaster was accused of sexually assaulting and impregnating his minor granddaughter in Jagtial town. The girl, a class X student of a residential school, is four months pregnant.
Though the incident was said to have happened during summer vacation, it came to light on Saturday night when the girl’s parents lodged a complaint with the local police.
During the vacation, the retired headmaster lured the girl into his house seeking some favours and sexually assaulted her several times, said police, adding that she was even threatened with dire consequences if she informed anyone about it.
After the school reopened and the girl went back, she started falling sick frequently. School officials took her for medical tests and it was found that she was pregnant. Shocked, the officials handed her over to her parents.
When the parents repeatedly questioned her, the girl confessed that her grandfather had committed the offence. After persistent pleas, the girl and her parents lodged a complaint with police, who have registered a case under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and started an investigation. However, they have not yet arrested the accused.
For his part, the retired headmaster has termed the allegations false and approached Jagtial police stating that he was being threatened by the girl’s parents.
