Thrissur: Cheruthuruthy police have registered two cases against a faculty member of the Kalamandalam deemed-to-be university under the Pocso Act following complaints of sexual harassment filed by students. Kalamandalam has suspended the Koodiyattam faculty member Kanakakumar, who hails from Desamangalam, following the allegations.

Kalamandalam vice-chancellor B Ananthakrishnan said the decision to suspend Kanakakumar was taken after an internal inquiry found that there was substance in the complaints made by the students. The students have complained that the teacher was seen coming to the classroom after consuming alcohol and was making sexually toned comments apart from touching girl students inappropriately.

Kunnamkulam ACP Santhosh said police have taken two cases against him based on the complaints filed by students. He said Kanakakumar had gone into hiding and police are trying to nab him.

According to reports, more senior students have come up with complaints of harassment against Kanakakumar. Police had registered a Pocso case against a former Kalamandalam teacher in Mizhavu following sexual abuse complaint filed by a girl student in 2022.

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