NEW DELHI, Sept 18: A three-year-old girl was allegedly raped by her school teacher in Bhopal, the state capital city of Madhya Pradesh, the police said on Wednesday.
The police said the accused had been arrested and the Chief Minister Mohan Yadav taking cognisance of the horrible incident directed Chief Secretary Veera Rana to work with the High Court Chief Justice to constitute a special fast-track court for the trial. Bhopal Police Commissioner Harinarayanachari Mishra also formed an SIT led by a female DSP officer to probe the matter.
According to the police, the alleged incident took place inside the private school in Kamla Nagar police station area on September 13 and the girl’s mother reported it to the police the next day. “The girl’s mother noticed some bruises and blood on her daughter’s body. When she asked her about it the girl said ‘daddy uncle’ (how the girl addressed the teacher) had touched her,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Priyanka Shukla said.
Ms Shukla said since the girl’s mother only complained about inappropriate touch, an FIR for harassment was filed. “Next day, we recorded the girl’s statements in front of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) when she also told about rape,” Ms Shukla said, adding that charges like Section 65(2) and 64 of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) and relevant Sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act to the FIR.
Ms Shukla said the accused was identified as Qasim Rehan, 35, who teaches computer at the school for about 1.5 years. He was arrested on September 16 and sent to judicial custody then next day. She said that a medical examination of the child has been conducted and that her health is fine.
She said the girl’s mother had told the police that she had noticed similar things in the past too but did not think that her daughter had been sexually assaulted. “The SIT will also investigate to find any similar incidents that took place with the child in the past and if there are any more victims,” the DCP said. As per the victim’s statements, Ms Shukla said, the incident took place near a washroom when she was going there. “The accused is, however, denying the act and is saying that he used to love the children and play with them,” she said.
School Education Minister Uday Pratap Singh said action would also be taken against the concerned school. State Congress chief Jitu Patwari said he had written to President Droupadi Murmu, who is currently on a two-day visit to Madhya Pradesh, regarding crimes against women in the State and requested her intervention.
(Manas Dasgupta)
