BANGALORE: A school principal who was arrested last month for sexually harassing hostel inmates, didn't stop with drinking on campus or asking girls for their pillows. He allegedly sexually assaulted at least 30 girls in the hostel.

Horrific tales of sexual attacks by Mallikarjun Swamy, 52, came to light when the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) recently met students of the residential school in Anekal taluk. The principal removed the latches of doors to rooms in which older girls were staying, and allegedly took their photographs when they were bathing, the CWC alleged.

Swamy was arrested last month after TV channels telecast footage of him and his associates consuming alcohol on the hostel premises. He was booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The principal allegedly borrowed pillows from the girls, saying they helped him dream.

CWC members said they found the girls in a state of shock, and managed to get them to open up after a lot of convincing. "Once they started opening up, we were shocked by revelations about what the principal was doing to them," said Vishalakshi CS.

A 15-year-old girl, who was the constant target of the principal's assaults, was so disturbed that her statement had to be recorded in front of a magistrate to strengthen the case. "Although most of the girls were sexually harassed, she was his target," she said. Mallikarjun allegedly touched the girl and her friends inappropriately and sexually assaulted them. When CWC members inspected the girls' rooms, they found most of them had no latches.

Though parents lodged several complaints with police, there was no response.

Bangalore Rural SP B Ramesh said Swamy was booked and the girls' statements to the CWC would be added to the case.

