Mysore: Sold by mother, minor suffers prolonged sexual harassment; BEO held

Daijiworld Media Network – Mysore (SP)

Mysore, Apr 28: In an incident which defies humanitarian principles, a minor girl, who was sold to a block education officer, underwent sexual atrocities at the hands of her master for two years, before being released from the ordeal with police help.

On the allegation of buying a girl and raping her repeatedly, block education officer of K R Pet in the district, A B Puttaswamy Gowda, was arrested on Friday April 26 night from his native place, Agrahara Bachanalli, in K R Pet taluk. Gowda, who also was entrusted with election-related duties, stands suspended from service.

A city-based lady named Radha has been arrested on the charge of managing a brothel and helping the accused in sexually exploiting the minor girl. Now they are looking for the woman, who sold her daughter to Gowda.

Gowda has been accused of striking a deal with a woman named Leela from a hamlet in Sakleshpur taluk, Hassan district, two years back, for buying her 14-year-old daughter for Rs 75,000.  Leela reportedly handed over custody of her daughter to Gowda after receiving a gold chain valued at Rs 75,000. The girl was then kept in the house belonging to Radha, located at EF block of Kuvempunagar in the city. It is said that Radha has been running a brothel from her home.

Gowda frequently visited Rada’s home along with his friends, and used to rape the minor girl. The girl, now 16, called up police station and explained to them about her pathetic life. The police, working in association with a voluntary organization named Odanadi, unearthed the racket and succeeded in releasing the girl from the clutches of the concerned. The police said that the girl, during questioning, laid bare the gory details of her ordeal.

Puttaswamy Gowda, who began his career as the warden of a hostel in K R Pet, has been working as block education officer at K R Pet since the last three years. After working as warden, he got appointment as a teacher on contract in the government PU College’s high school section. He then passed KES examination and serviced as block coordinating officer at K R Pet. Later, after his promotion as block education officer, he worked in Nagamangala, Srirangapatna, and Raichur, before getting transfer back to K R Pet.

There are rumours within circles close to him that he has the habit of indulging in sex with young girls.