Andhra Pradesh school suspends 3 staff after Class 9 tribal girl found pregnant

Three staff members of a Government Tribal Welfare Ashram School for Girls in Andhra Pradesh’s Polavaram district have been suspended after a 15-year-old Class 9 student was found to be pregnant. The girl was taken to hospital in Kakinada after developing health problems. Medical examinations conducted on September 10 confirmed her pregnancy, officials said.

Following this, the school headmistress lodged a complaint with the police. According to the complaint, the girl alleged that K Mangaraju, an outsourced cook working at the school, sexually assaulted her on three occasions.

Police have initiated action under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and other applicable laws. Officials from the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) are also conducting an inquiry.

As a preliminary disciplinary measure, district authorities suspended headmistress D Shanthimathi, Hostel Welfare Officer P Vijayakantham and K Lovamma, who was in charge of the Class 9 'A' section.

District Tribal Welfare Department official M Rukmandayya said the suspensions were ordered to ensure an impartial inquiry. Further action will be taken based on the findings of the investigation and applicable service rules, he said.

Authorities have also directed officials to strengthen safety standards, supervision and monitoring mechanisms at Ashram Schools to ensure the safety and welfare of students.CASE AGAINST TEACHER AFTER GIRL ALLEGES SEXUAL HARASSMENT

In a separate incident, a 14-year-old girl student was allegedly sexually harassed by a teacher at a government-run residential school in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district, police said on Sunday.

Bhopalpattnam police registered a case against the teacher on Saturday following a complaint. Efforts are underway to apprehend him.

The accused, in his early 40s, allegedly touched the Class 9 student inappropriately in October last year and misbehaved with her on several occasions, Bijapur Additional Superintendent of Police Aman Kumar Jha said.

Some students from Classes 9 to 11 have also alleged inappropriate touching and misbehaviour by the teacher. Their statements are being recorded as part of the investigation.

A case has been registered under Section 74 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with other relevant provisions of the BNS and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012.- EndsWith agency inputsPublished By: Priyanka KumariPublished On: Sep 13, 2026 16:50 IST