Harassment case: Probe to begin 30 Aug 2008, 0507 hrs IST,TNN MARGAO: South Goa SP Shekhar Prabhudesai on Friday said that the police will start recording statements and collecting evidence in a case filed against the management of Manovikas school on the complaint by a student's father Elvis Almeida.
Almeida had alleged that his son, studying in standard four, was systemically harassed, not only by the management, a teacher and a headmistress, but also by some parent teachers association (PTA) members. The SP also said that the police have registered a cross complaint lodged by PTA president Bryan Duarte against Almeida. Duarte has complained that Almeida threatened and intimidated him. ''We will not go for any arrest, but will probe the incident in-depth as it involves a child,'' observed Prabhudesai. Meanwhile, it is learnt that an NGO working in the field of children's rights has failed to persuade the school authorities to allow the child to attend classes even as the phase of counseling was on. It may be recalled that at an earlier meeting with education department officials it was suggested that the child should be counselled. ''We wanted to help the child because his father had approached us, but it appears we can't do much as he wants to take his own decision,'' a NGO member observed. It is learnt that Elvis has collected a school leaving certificate as he feels that his son is absolutely normal and there was a devious design to malign him and cause mental and physical torture to his son. Asked how some of the parents of the children studying in the school got involved in this case, the SP said their children must have complained against this child.