BHANDARA : The headmaster of a residential tribal primary school of village Sarandi ( Budruk ) of taluka Lakhandur has been booked for raping three girls. Offences under Prevention of Atrocities Act have also been registered by Lakhandur police after complaints by the girls. The principal is presently attending a training camp at Tumsar and is likely to be arrested as soon as he returns.

Swami Samarth residential primary school at Sarandi Budruk is run by Ashok Mahalle of Gurukunj Mozari. The school has classes from standard I to VII. Since the school is residential, all the pupils reside there. The teachers of the school take turns to sleep in the school for the safety of the girls and boys.

One day last month, headmaster Pralhad Ramesh Bhusari (50) was on night duty in the school. He entered the room where girl students were sleeping and lay down near a girl. He closed her mouth with a cloth, unclothed and raped her. He then threatened her with dire consequences before going back to his room. Later, he also gave some money to the girl to keep the matter secret.

However, the incident was narrated by the girl to the lady cook of the school. Soon it came to light that the headmaster had molested and raped three girls of the school, but no one had reported the matter due to his pressure.

In the meantime, headmaster Pralhad Bhusari had left for Tumsar to attend a teachers training camp, and a lady teacher took charge as headmistress. On Thursday, the girls complained to the in charge headmistress and narrated their story. The headmistress personally inquired into the matter and came to the conclusion that the girl inmates were raped by the headmaster.

Police inspector of Lakhandur and deputy superintendent of Paoni visited the school on Friday for an inquiry. The lady headmaster lodged an official complaint with Lakhandur police station, and police registered offences of rape and under sections of Prevention of Atrocities Act on schedule castes.

Meanwhile, there have not been any developments in the alleged Murmadi rape and murder of three minor girls. The family of the deceased girls has not yet decided whether they will be demanding a CBI inquiry into the case.

