Chandigarh: In a shocking incident, a school principal allegedly raped Class 10 girl on the pretext of helping her in the Board exams. The incident happened on the outskirts of Gohana town in Sonipat on Tuesday but it has come to light now.

The distresses father said that he went to the principal requesting help to get his daughter pass the exams, adding he was ready to offer Rs10,000. The principal promised help saying that some other student will sit at the exam venue and write on the girl's behalf.

"On March 8, the principal called me and my daughter to a school on the outskirts of Gohana. The principal then asked me to leave my daughter at his relative's place. He said another girl would write my daughter's exam," the girl's father told a daily.

The principal allegedly raped the girl at a house with the help of two other women. By the time the girl’s father went to pick up his daughter, the three fled the scene. The principal and two women have been booked under the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act. Police has launched a manhunt to nab the accused who are at large.

Crimes against women are rising with each passing day despite stringent laws. Recently, a nine-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a gaming zone employee at an upscale mall here on the International Women's Day. "The accused, Arjun Rathore (19) took the victim to a corner in the Treasure Island mall on Mahatma Gandhi Road, when she was playing in the gaming zone, and raped her," Deputy Inspector General (DIG), Indore, Harinarayanchari Mishra said, adding that the accused was arrested.