Palakkad: The Malampuzha police on Monday arrested and remanded to custody a government school teacher for sexually assaulting a 12-year-old student. The accused, a native of Mylapputhara in Vadavannur, had been working at the school for six years and was the boy’s class teacher.

Police said the teacher lured the child on the pretext of treating him for winning a competition. He allegedly picked up the boy on a scooter from a temple ground at Thondarkulangara. “A group of 10 students, including the boy, had won a competition. When the teacher initially gave the treat, the boy was not present. He later picked up the child on another day,” an officer from Malampuzha police station told Onmanorama.

The accused allegedly bought the boy a biryani and went to an outlet to purchase alcohol. He later took the boy to a rented house. Police said the accused sought permission from the boy’s parents for him to stay over, as it was around 8.30 pm. The sexual assault allegedly occurred there.

The boy later informed a friend, who reported the matter to the school management. The school subsequently filed a complaint on Sunday, following which a case was registered at the Malampuzha police station, invoking charges including rape, kidnapping, provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, rape by a public servant, Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) and forcing a minor to consume alcohol.

After the complaint was registered, two women police officers recorded the child’s statement, following which a probe was launched, and the teacher was taken into custody on Sunday. He was produced before a court and remanded to custody. The Mannarkkad DySP is leading the probe.