Harassed on way, 45 UP girls stop going to school

BAREILLY: At least 45 girls have stopped going to school in Uttar Pradesh’s Bareilly district to escape harassment and stalking by groups of miscreants, including

BAREILLY: At least 45 girls have stopped going to school in Uttar Pradesh’s Bareilly district to escape harassment and stalking by groups of miscreants, including students of the same institution, officials said on Thursday.

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Police arrested two of the accused following a complaint lodged by parents.

Police said the girls are students of Classes 8 to 12 at the Dunka Inter College, around 50 km from Bareilly. They stopped going to school on Monday after enduring harassment for several months.

“We have started investigation. The girls and their parents were assured of police support so the students have decided to go back to school,” said RK Bharadwaj, Bareilly SSP.

Sub-divisional magistrate RAN Pandey said the girls are harassed on their way to school, located around 2km away from their homes in a cluster of villages near Dunka. He said he held meetings with the local police and school administration to resolve the issue.

“The goons stand outside the gate and pass lewd comments. They even stalk the girls. How can our girls continue their education in this environment?” asked Satendra Singh of Dunga village.

Singh’s 17-year-old daughter is among those who have stopped going to school.