Chhattisgarh: CRPF trooper accused of molesting Dantewada schoolgirls arrested

A Chhattisgarh police team has been sent to Uttarakhand to arrest the other CRPF trooper allegedly involved in the incident.

Updated on: Aug 9, 2017, 11:14:33 IST

Hindustan Times, Raipur | By Ritesh Mishra

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Chhattisgarh Police identified two Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel accused of molesting schoolgirls during a cultural programme last month and arrested one of them on Wednesday.

Two CRPF personnel have been accused of molesting girls after an event at their hostel in Dantewada on July 31. (HT photo)

Police said they arrested 31-year-old Shamim Ahmed and sent a team to Uttarakhand to arrest 34-year-old Neeraj Kandwal, who hails from the hill state and is on leave.

The alleged molestation took place in a girls hostel on July 31 in the Maoist stronghold of Dantewada during a programme where the students were supposed to tie rakhis to personnel. After the programme – sponsored by a private news channel – was done, security personnel allegedly followed the girls to the toilet and molested them.

“The two accused have been identified on the basis of photo identification of around 254 CRPF personnel by 16 victims on Tuesday,” said Abhishek Pallav, additional superintendent of police (Dantewada). Both have been suspended.

HT reported on Monday that the Chhattisgarh police launched an investigation against unknown CRPF personnel, a development that triggered widespread outrage in a region where security forces are often accused of egregious human rights violations.

The probe was launched after the warden complained to the police. Palnar, where the alleged incident took place, is 25 km away from the district headquarters of Dantewada.

The incident came to light after activist Himanshu Kumar wrote about the incident on Facebook on Sunday. Nearly 500 girls took part in the July 31 event, to be telecast on the local news channels, and tied rakhis on the personnel.

Following the complaint, an FIR was lodged against unidentified security personnel under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

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