An assistant headmaster attached to a panchayat union primary school in the district was arrested on Saturday on charges of sexually harassing girl students. The arrested was identified as M. Thulasiraman, 59, a resident of Anna Nagar in Kallakurichi.

The Chief Educational Officer T. Vijayalakshmi ordered his suspension following an enquiry.

The police said the incident came to light after a girl student of Class V complained to her parents about Thulasiraman. The AHM had been sexually harassing girl students since the schools reopened and threatened the children that he would fail them if they revealed the incident to anyone.

However, one girl student complained to her parents following which parents picketed the school on Friday. But Thulasiraman went on medical leave.

Following complaints, women police visited the school and began an investigation. Thulasiraman had harassed about 15 girl students in the school so far, the preliminary investigation revealed.

A case was booked against him under various sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. He was arrested and remanded to custody in the Cuddalore Central Prison