Kerala Teacher Arrested After Minor Boy Reports Assault Weeks Later

Palakkad: A school teacher in Palakkad district, Kerala, was arrested on Sunday for allegedly sexually assaulting a Class VI boy. Police say the incident happened at the teacher's home in Malampuzha at the end of November, but the case only came to light in mid-December. 

According to officials, the 12-year-old student was taken to the teacher's house on November 29. There, the teacher, identified as Anil, a Sanskrit teacher at an aided school and a native of Kollangode, reportedly forced the boy to drink alcohol and assaulted him. 

Why was the case reported late?

The matter was not reported immediately. It only emerged when the boy confided in a schoolmate on December 18. The friend told his mother, who then informed the victim’s parents. That triggered a complaint to school authorities.

Police and community members have questioned the delay in reporting. Investigators say until the boy spoke to his friend, no one else knew about the incident. 

Did the school do the right thing?

After the parents approached the school, teachers and management removed the accused from his duties. But police say school officials did not report the matter to law enforcement right away, even though the allegation was of a serious crime. 

School authorities reject this criticism. They say the boy’s relatives had only just approached them formally. They also maintain that once they learned the details, the teacher was immediately dismissed and action was taken. 

How did police get involved?

The Kerala Police Special Branch, the state's intelligence wing, received information about the matter independently. After verifying the details, they passed the information to the local Malampuzha police. Officers then recorded the boy’s statement and registered a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. 

The teacher has been arrested and will be produced in court as part of the remand process.