Palakkad: A day after a government school teacher accused of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old student and forcing him to drink alcohol was suspended, the Palakkad District Educational Officer has initiated a probe against the school's Head Mistress to investigate lapses in her handling of the issue.

The probe was initiated after the Assistant Educational Officer (AEO), Palakkad, submitted a report recommending the suspension of the teacher and the disqualification of the school management.

The accused, a native of Mylapputhara in Vadavannur, had been working at the school for six years and was the boy's class teacher. He had lured the student on the pretext of giving him a treat for winning a competition. He bought the boy a biriyani, after which he took him to a rented house where he raped the minor. 

"The District Educational Officer (DEO) and Assistant Educational Officer are at the school to assess whether disciplinary action must be taken against the Head Master of the school as well," an official told Onmanorama. The decision will be made after investigating whether lapses on their part occurred, he said.

After the incident, the student confided in a friend, who informed his parents, and a complaint was filed with the school management.

The school subsequently filed a complaint on Sunday, and a case was registered at the Malampuzha police station. The accused was arrested and remanded to custody on Monday.

He was charged with 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.