A primary teacher trying to molest a minor girl student was caught by the villagers red handed and was thrashed and stripped on the road before the police rescued him from the clutches of the angry mob today.

Firoz Khan, the accused teacher of the Indas Free Primary School in Bankura had allegedly been harassing the girl students of the school over a period of six months. Earlier, he was cautioned by a few guardians after some girls complained about his behaviour.

“Despite several complaints to the school’s headmistress, the situation didn’t change and the teacher became more aggressive and even molested some girls,” alleged a guardian.

One of the guardians alleged: “In last six months, he has molested more than seven girls of class IV including my daughter.” Another guardian alleged: “He possesses a dirty mind and used to strip the girls in the classrooms. My daughter broke into tears the other day and I had complained to the headmistress but she remained indifferent.”

The teacher had also skipped classes since the past few days. Today, when he entered the school, some guardians were keeping watch on him. “When he touched one girl offensively, she screamed and we rushed to the classroom before he could escape and caught him red handed,” one of the guardians said. The headmistress of the school, Kajol Saha said: “Six months ago parents of a student had complained about Firoz verbally but also had asked us not to proceed further. So, we didn’t initiate any action against him but he was cautioned.”

“Today,” she said: “An angry mob ran into the classroom and dragged Firoz out of the school and stripped him in public and started beating him ruthlessly.”

The headmistress called the police and the accused was rescued from the grip of angry protesters after almost 20 minutes.

The accused teacher was taken into police custody. “He will be produced in court tomorrow,” a police officer said.

A insurance company agent in Burdwan town, meanwhile, lodged a complaint against a pathological laboratory owner today, bringing charges of rape and having sexual relations on the promise of marriage.

The police, however, are yet to book the accused.