Lucknow: Lancy Lobo, the vice-principal of St Fidelis College, was on Friday arrested on charges of harassing a class VIII girl student of his school. The school is indefinitely shut.
SSP Manzil Saini said Lobo was arrested from his residence in Vrindavan Yojana on the basis of a statement made by the girl before a magistrate under Section 164 CrPC (considered as evidence in court). Charges levelled against Lobo include outraging modesty, voluntary causing hurt, causing hurt by means of poison and criminal intimidation. Charges under Protection Of Children from Sexual Offences Act have also been slapped on him.
The girl had accused him of spiking her water bottle and putting a letter and objectionable items in her bag. Initially, the police had registered a case against unidentified persons but the picture became clear after the girl recorded her statement. obo is a native of Chikmanglur in Karnataka, reported The Times of India.
Earlier in the day, the college administration sent out a message to all parents informing them about indefinite closure of the school.
While the message didn’t cite any reasons, college’s teachers’ representative Tea Joseph told TOI that the Vikas Nagar SO had informed the school of a probable threat of protests from various organisations. “Considering the safety of students, which is our priority, we decided to shut down the school till further information,” said Joseph. He added, “The closure also marks the protest against the accusations against the vice-principal and principal.”
The indefinite closure, said Joseph, came after consulting Bishops who were the head of Catholic institutions. “We also met the DM and the IG and they have assured their full support to us,” he said.