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Accused let off, parents’ body to move court
Bowing to mounting pressure from parents, a Faridabad school on Tuesday issued transfer certificates to four students allegedly involved in sexually abusing a seven-year-old student of the school.
Bowing to mounting pressure from parents, a Faridabad school on Tuesday issued transfer certificates to four students allegedly involved in sexually abusing a seven-year-old student of the school.
Meanwhile, despite the serious nature of charges against them, police on Tuesday released all four students, claiming that the complainants — the victim’s parents — had withdrawn their complaint in the case.
“We have released all four (students) as the complainant withdrew the complaint,” said Satveer Singh, SHO, SGM Nagar police station.
The parents’ association of Gita Bal Niketan (GBN) Senior Secondary School is now contemplating going to court. “What kind of message are we giving out? The police told us on Monday that the alleged accused will be produced before court on Tuesday. But we were shocked to know they had been let off,” said Amar Bajaj, president of the parents’ association. Demanding action against the accused, a large number of parents descended on the school campus for the second consecutive day on Tuesday.
As parents mounted pressure, the district administration had to step in, with sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Faridabad Pradeep Godhara and ACP NIT Romesh Pal rushing to the school.
Guidelines for schools
As a fallout of the sexual assault case, the district administration has directed schools in Faridabad to set up CCTV cameras and complaint boxes and deploy staff around toilets.
The victim was assaulted in the school toilet.
“We have directed GBN School to install CCTV cameras at blind spots, put up complaint boxes and deploy staff members — both male and female — around toilets,” said Pradeep Godhara, SDM, Faridabad.
“We will also advise other schools in Faridabad to follow these guidelines as a precautionary measure,” Godhara said.
