Nearly 60 girl students of a Government Senior Secondary School at Jalandhar have in a written complaint to the principal alleged sexual harassment by the school sports coach.

The girls, majority of whom are kho-kho players at the government school, have said that they had been forced to complain after being fed up with the “unbearable” behaviour of the coach, Shashi Sharma.

The girls alleged that Sharma had been coercing them to grant sexual favours for pushing their careers at the district and national levels. The Punjab Education Department has reacted quickly to the sordid affair and ordered an inquiry against Sharma after transferring him from the school.

 An investigation team of the education department has visited the school and talked to the teachers and students.

Allegations refuted

However Sharma refuted the allegations of sexual harassment , saying it was a “big conspiracy” against him. “I never exploited any girl when I was young, how can I do it now,” said Sharma who is in his 50s. The investigation report would be given to the District Education Officer for further action against Sharma, sources said.

Sources in the school said that on some occasions, Sharma had been noticed coming to the girls hostel in a drunken state where he has misbehaved with the girls.

On two occasions, Sharma be at up the hostel cook also, source said.  Recently, some girls from Andhra Pradesh who had come to participate in the national school championships had also alleged harassment by Sharma.