A private school teacher was arrested in Gurugram on Tuesday for allegedly harassing a class 7 girl, police reported. According to the complaint, the teacher, Sanju Verma, coerced the girl into accepting his follow request on Instagram and then proceeded to send her “obscene” messages through the app.

The girl’s father, who filed the complaint, explained that his daughter had followed Verma on Instagram using her mother’s account. “Shortly after, Verma began sending inappropriate and obscene messages to my daughter. When she informed me about the situation, I immediately contacted the police,” the father detailed in his complaint.

In response to the complaint, an FIR was registered against Verma under Section 12 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act at the Women’s Police Station in Sector 51 on Monday. Subsequently, Verma was arrested on Tuesday morning. Virender Vij, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime against Women), stated that Verma has joined the investigation and is currently being questioned by the authorities.

The incident has raised significant concerns among parents and school authorities about the safety and well-being of students in digital spaces. It highlights the importance of monitoring children’s online interactions and ensuring strict measures are in place to protect them from potential predators. The school administration has been urged to take immediate action and review their policies regarding teacher-student interactions both online and offline.

The community is now calling for stringent actions and greater awareness to prevent such incidents in the future, emphasizing the need for a safe and respectful environment for all students.

Source: PTI

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