TIRUVANNAMALAI: A 32-year-old teacher of a government school, who had sexually assaulted some of her students for the past three years, has been arrested and remanded by Arani all-women police. The woman, who used to lure the boys promising to buy them gadgets such as mobile phones, had sexually assaulted them on many occasions in the school and at home during tuition. She had even taken them to secluded spots and allegedly captured pictures and videos of their intimate moments.

A senior police officer said, Umesh Kumar, 37, a government school teacher was married to Nithya, 32, another government school teacher, 13 years ago and they were living with their 5-year-old child in

.

In January, Umesh got to check his wife's mobile when she threw it on the floor following a quarrel and was shocked to find photos and videos of her in compromising positions with her students. After transferring the evidence, he lodged a complaint with the Arani AWPS.

However, the then woman inspector refused to register a case without the intervention of District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) officials. On advise by a police officer, Umesh lodged a petition with the Tiruvannamalai collector in January. Based on the petition, the collector directed the DCPU officials to conduct an inquiry.

Speaking to TOI, Mythili, inspector of Arani AWPS, said, “DCPU has taken the photos and videos as evidence and conducted enquiry with some students and alumnus of Pudhu Palayam, Paiyur and Mammandoor government higher secondary schools where Nitya worked as English teacher from 2014 till date.” Some victims said Nitya used to target boys aged 15 to 17 (Classes X, XI and XII) luring them saying she would buy them cell phones, had sexually assaulted them on the school premises, at her home tuition and by taking them to lonely spots.

Based on a complaint by the DCPU, the Arani all-women police arrested Nitya and in her statement she confessed to sexually assaulting a Class X student while working at the Paiyur school near Arani in 2016 and a Class XII boy while working at the Pudhupalayam school at Chengam in 2017.

“We have registered a case under Sections 10 and 14 of Pocso act and remanded her in the Vellore special prison for women after producing her before the Tiruvannamalai fast track mahila court judge on Wednesday night. As we suspect more students may have fallen prey to her, we plan to conduct a fresh probe,” Mythili said.