Deputy Warden arrested for abusing8217; minor

RAJAHMUNDRY, NOV 4: In yet another shocking incident of child molestation, the deputy warden of a social welfare school at Ameenabad village in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh has been arrested on charge of sexually abusing a minor girl. Police said the accused had been maintaining an illicit relationship with the tribal girl for quite sometime. Medical examination of the girl revealed that she was four months pregnant. She has been since been admitted to the local Government hospital.

Yesterday8217;s arrest followed a complaint by the girl8217;s mother to the Project Officer of the Integrated Tribal Development Agency ITDA. The officer later lodged a complaint with the police. The deputy warden has been remanded to judicial custody.

Meanwhile, a delegation of the Progressive Organisation of Women POW and the Progressive Democratic Students8217; Union PDSU met the district collector last night and demanded the deputy warden8217;s dismissal.

The delegation alleged that some police officials were attempting to shield the accused and demanded that only women should henceforth be posted as wardens in ashram schools.This is the second such incident in the recent past. The headmaster of an ashram school in Visakhapatnam district was placed under suspension recently after several instances of abuse of girls by teachers came to light.