Man drinks, molests girl in residential school

KADAPA: In a shocking incident, a class IX student of Velugu Residential School for Girls at Thonduru was molested by a 27yearold man in her hostel last week but the principal allegedly tried to hush up the incident fearing losing her job.
When contacted, superintendent of police Sundar Kumar Das confirmed the incident but refused to divulge details, stating the case was under investigation. According to information, police visited the hostel next day after learning of the incident but the principal Uma Devi is said to have lied to them. The collector V Anil Kumar and other officials also visited the school but even then she tried to mislead them. But after inspecting the room and finding some blood marks, the collector ordered a detailed probe.After being pressed by police officials, Uma Devi recounted the incident but tried to put the blame on lack of security. The school, with 585 students has only one watchwoman. On coming to know the accused was injured and must have approached a hospital for treatment, an alert was sounded and hospitals were searched. Finally on Monday evening, police zeroed in on the accused in Kadiri Government Hospital in Anantapur district. He was taken into custody. The accused, Selam alias Babu is a native of Potipadu village in Dadivemula mandal of Kurnool district. A spurned lover, he had been targeting girls in hostels for some time and had committed such breakins in Badvel, Mydukur and Vemula mandals in Kadapa. Sources said the accused, who is a mimicry artiste, used to identify entrance, exits, possible victims during his shows and later act upon his plans.