Help at Delhi’s Queen Mary’s school alleges molestation, attempts suicide
She claimed she was sexually harassed for one-and-a-half years but chose to remain quiet because two of her children study in the same school.
A 28-year-old Dalit woman working as a help at the Queen Mary’s School, Tis Hazari, was allegedly molested twice on the school premises by the principal’s brother-in-law.
The woman, who was admitted to a city hospital for two days after an attempted suicide, told the police on Friday that she was threatened by the principal against reporting the incident to anyone.
She claimed she was sexually harassed for one-and-a-half years but chose to remain quiet because two of her children study in the same school.
Police on Monday filed an FIR against accused, Vinod Thomas, under IPC sections 354 (outraging a woman’s modesty) and 354B (assault or criminal force with intent to disrobe).
DCP (North) Madhur Verma said, “We have registered a FIR of molestation. Her allegations that the school had allegedly threatened to expel her children will also be probed.”
HT contacted the school principal on her cell phone. A man identified himself as the PRO and said the FIR was that of eve-teasing. He said he would connect us to the principal but despite several calls and three text messages in the evening, she was not available for any comment.
Narrating her ordeal, the woman told HT, “He always touched my hand, forced me to stand close to him and passed remarks but I kept quiet because of my kids who study in the same school. Every time I served water, he touched my hand. I continued to put up with this harassment but on June 30, it got worse.”
The woman said she was molested twice over two days. On June 30, at around 9am, Vinod allegedly called the victim to give him a glass of water at the principal’s house which is on the school premises. There was no one in the house then. She said that Vinod grabbed her, touched her inappropriately and tried to kiss her. “I fought back and left the house. He threatened to get me arrested in a fake theft case. I chose not to complain because of my kids and thought that he would not do it again,” she said.
The woman alleged that the following day, when the principal had left for school, Vinod forcibly pushed her inside the bathroom and disrobed her. “He touched me inappropriately and tried to rape me. I managed to run away and told the principal about it. She did not believe me and threatened to expel my children,” she said.
Feeling helpless, the woman said that on July 12, she drank phenyl but was rushed to the St. Stephen’s hospital by her colleagues. “I did not tell police anything at the hospital but last week, they started harassing my mother. They transferred my mother to another department, because of which she also suffered a heart attack. I now want justice at any cost. I will also approach the SC/ST commission against them,” she alleged.
Bishop Warris Mariah of the Delhi Diocese said he was informed about the case on Friday morning. “Police have already registered an FIR. We have also called a meeting on Saturday.”
The woman stays with her husband and three children at Majnu-ka-Tilla.