Bengaluru: Even as the police is investigating the alleged rape of a three-and-a-half-year-old child in a Jalahalli school, Orchids, The International School, a 35-year-old arts teacher has been arrested for allegedly behaving indecently before a six-year-old girl in an upscale Malleswarm school in September this year.
The Subramanynagara police has arrested the teacher, Shivakumar, despite the reluctance of the girl’s parents to file a complaint.
“The principal of the school, Anuradha, had approached the Subramanyanagara police and reported the incident, but was hauled up by the highly educated parents of the child for lodging a police complaint,” said Mr T. R. Suresh, DCP (North). Now the school management is reportedly reluctant to cooperate with the police in the matter.
Meanwhile the police has zeroed in on a suspect in the Orchids school case. A school attendant, Gundanna, has been identified by the child in photographs shown to her, but the police has not come to any conclusions as yet.
The Department of Public Instruction (DPI) has decided to register a criminal case against the school for violating the State Education Act, tampering with documents and misguiding the parents and students on its affiliation. Orchids is allegedly not affiliated to any board, despite its claims to the contrary.
As the police intensified the probe into the alleged sexual assault of a three-and-a-half-year-old girl in the Orchids The International School in Jalahalli, a 45-year-old male attendant of the school has been detained after the victim identified his photo and told he was the one who ‘hurt’ her.
The suspect, identified as Gundanna, has reportedly told the police that he has not even seen the child and has pleaded innocence. The police, however, are continuing to interrogate him.
The police have questioned all the male staff both teaching and non-teaching - including the Principal, in connection with the incident. Their photographs were shown to the girl, who told police that ‘he was a bad man’, on seeing Gundanna’s photo.
Based on her reaction, the police have zeroed in on Gundanna, and have picked him up for questioning on Wednesday night. The police strongly suspect his role as the girl identified him, when his photo was shown to her thrice on Wednesday.
Since the probe began on Tuesday night, the police have questioned more than 10 people. The police have verified the footage captured in the 18 CCTV cameras installed on the school premises, but it has not been of much help to the police.
“Only thrice in the footage we could see the child and she is occupied with female attendants every time. It has been very difficult to talk to the kid, as she still does not speak much. Our women officers are put on the job to talk to the girl and extract information from her.
Even it is not of much help. Now we are thinking of taking the help of experts and psychiatrists who can make the child speak. Besides this, we are making all efforts to crack the case by collecting circumstantial evidences,” a senior police officer said, on condition of anonymity.
The police have formed a special team lead by ACP (Malleswaram sub-division) Sara Fathima to probe the case. “The ACP is the taking the help of two other women officers.
A woman police inspector and woman sub-inspector are assisting the ACP and they have been talking to the victim and her parents,” the officer added.
Additional Commissioner of Police (Law & Order) Alok Kumar told Deccan Chronicle that the investigation was in progress and no one has been arrested. When asked about the result of the medical test on the victim, he declined to comment.
Protest by parents
Orchids The International School campus in Jalahalli witnessed tensed moments as parents, locals and other organisations protested in front of the school on Wednesday and Thursday, following the alleged rape on a pre-nursery student. On Thursday, separate protests were held by parents and the Youth Congress activists.
DPI to file case
Meanwhile, Department of Public Instruction (DPI) has decided to register criminal case under various sections of IPC for violating the State Education Act beside tampering with documents and misguiding the parents and students over the affiliation of the school.
DPI Commissioner Mohammad Mohsin visited the school along with senior officials and inspected the documents. Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Mr Mohsin informed that the department will file a criminal case against the school for violating the various sections of the State Education Act.
According to the DPI officials, at the time of document verification it was found that school was running pre-nursery, nursery and STD VI and VII without government approval. Adding to this state government permitted the school to run classes between 1 and V in Kannada as the medium of instruction.
“At the time of my visit, I directed the school authorities to submit CBSE/ICSE affiliation related documents. But there were no records. We have issued a show-cause notice and definitely initiate stern action against the school management,” he said.
Mr Mohsin also stated that school has not affiliated to any boards. “There are 967 students in the school. We will initiate stern action against the school for violating all the guidelines and rules,” he said.
Highlights in the notice
According to the notice issued by the Bengaluru North BEO (2) BC Basavarajegowda to the school it has been alleged that school has violated the permission norms.
“Permission was issued for the academic year 2013-14 with a rider that medium of instruction should be in Kannada between STD 1 and V. As per RTE act, school should obtain prior permission to run pre-nursery and nursery schools. But none of these conditions are followed. The school has been given seven days time to file reply,” stated in the notice.
According to sources, school CEO D’Coasta, school management representative Venkatanarayana were present at the time of Commissioner’s visit. When commissioner arrived, the school management representatives used the backdoor to enter the school to avoid media and agitating parents.
Parents meeting
Later a meeting between the parents and the management was held. According to sources, parents raised several questions. But management representatives maintained that alleged sexual assault happened outside the school campus.
They also assured of employing more women staff and replacing all male non-teaching and teaching staff with female staff members. It was also decided to hold another round of meeting on Friday. “Management has proposed to re-start the school from Monday.
A decision in this regard will be taken on Friday,” said a parent who attended the meeting. According to the sources, there was heated argument between the parents and the management over some issues.
Meanwhile, hundreds Youth Congress activists painted the school gate black and removed the name boards of the school put up on the compound.
