Sirsa, Mar 1 (UNI) A teacher of a rural Government Primary School in this district was arrested for allegedly trying to molest a girl student of class fourth.

SSP Vikas Arora told UNI today that the police nabbed the teacher Harbans Singh, who has been booked under section 354 IPC, immediately after the woman Sarpanch of the village Kripal Patti brought the matter to its notice.

According to the Sarpanch and other villagers, who are demanding stringent action against the culprit, about 40-odd students of the school raised an alarm yesterday when one of their co-students came crying out of a room, without her clothes on.

The victim, a student of class fourth had been taken by Singh to a vacant room on the pretext of picking some utensils. Singh allegedly stripped the girl and tried to abuse her sexually.

When the wailing girl came out of the room, without her clothes on, the alarmed children spread the news which was soon brought to the notice of the victim's father. He was immediately accompanied by the Village headwoman to the police station where a complaint was lodged against the teacher, who was later arrested.

However the accused JBT teacher, refuting the charges said that he had only ''kissed'' the girl and the matter had been ''exaggerated''.

UNI