POCSO accused teacher dies after fall from Ramanagara SP office

A 49-year-old physical education teacher arrested in a Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act case died on Sunday after allegedly jumping from the third floor of the Bengaluru South district Superintendent of Police's office complex in Ramanagara.

The deceased was identified as S. Shashidhar, a native of Chapparadahalli in Kottur taluk of Vijayanagara district. He was employed at a private school falling under the jurisdiction of the Akkur police station in Channapatna taluk.

According to the police, Shashidhar was accused of sexually assaulting children at the school. The Ramanagara Women's Police Station registered a POCSO case three days ago and placed him under arrest.

After being taken into custody, he was questioned by the police. On Sunday morning, he was taken for a medical examination before being brought to the SP's office for the completion of formalities ahead of his remand to judicial custody.

Police said his fingerprints were recorded on the third floor of the office. While he was being escorted back to the police vehicle, Shashidhar allegedly pushed aside a constable accompanying him and suddenly jumped from the third floor.

He sustained serious injuries in the fall and was rushed to a nearby district hospital, where he died after reportedly failing to respond to treatment, a police officer said.

Further investigation is on.

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