MCD school did not report rape on time, says NCPCR

The girl was allegedly gang-raped on March 14 by the peon and three others at an unknown location after being lured out and injected with sedatives. On March 15, the girl’s family informed the school authorities about the assault. The police, however, were alerted only on March 22 upon which they arrested the peon.

A day after a peon of a civic body-run school was arrested in connection with the gang rape of a Class 5 girl, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights on Friday flagged lapses on the part of the east Delhi school authorities and the education department in reporting the crime, taking timely action against the accused, and for inadequate security arrangements at the school.

The 10-year-old girl’s statement was recorded before a magistrate in the case on Friday. (AFP)

Meanwhile, the 10-year-old girl’s statement was recorded before a magistrate in the case, in which three other people are suspected to be involved but are yet to be identified. The girl was allegedly gang-raped on March 14 by the peon, Ajay Kumar, and three others at an unknown location after being lured out and injected with sedatives. On March 15, the girl’s family informed the school authorities about the assault. The police, however, were alerted only on March 22 upon which they registered a case of gang rape and arrested the peon. Officials have described the girl’s condition as “severely traumatised”.

During a visit at the school on Friday, NCPCR said that the delay in reporting the matter to the police was “inexplicable”, and it cost investigators crucial evidence because of which three suspects remain on the run.

“The school authorities should have reported the crime to the police on March 15,” said Preeti Bhardwaj, NCPCR member.

“The report by the school inspectors was ready on March 16, but the police were informed six days later on March 22. A prompt response would have helped the police gather crucial evidence and arrest the other three suspects as well,” she said.

Other lapses that NCPCR flagged was the alleged lack of CCTVs and security at the gates of the school, and in the police verification of the peon, said Priyank Kanoongo, chairperson of NCPCR.

“The police also did not produce the child before the child welfare committee and didn’t even inform them about the development within 24 hours, which is mandatory,” said Kanoongo. A senior police officer told NCPCR that they had informed the Delhi Commission for Women.

Police, meanwhile, said that they have collected the clothes worn by the suspect on the day of the crime. “With time lost, evidence is certainly lost,” another police officer aware of the matter said, asking not to be named.

While the Municipal Corporation of Delhi on Friday did not respond to the lapses flagged by the commission, it said on Thursday that they have issued a show-cause notice to the school principal and a teacher for the delay in informing the police. According to MCD, the school authorities tried to convince the girl’s family to lodge a police complaint, but they refused to cooperate.

Amrutha Guguloth, deputy commissioner of police (east), said that the arrested peon has denied his involvement in the crime, because of which he claims to be unaware of the identities of the other suspects.

On Friday, the NCPCR team met the child and her parents. “Physically she is fine, but emotionally she is very afraid. She is communicating largely in gestures and needs a lot of comforting,” said Bhardwaj.