Sexual Assault on Two Boys: Teachers, Vice-Principal Suspended, Accused (all Minors) Held
Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Aug 29: The Delhi government has ordered the suspension of some teachers and the vice-principal of a government school in Shahbad Dairy area in outer Delhi for failing to take note of complaints by two class eight standard boys of being sexually assaulted by their fellow classmates.
The officials said two students, aged 12 and 13, were sexually assaulted allegedly by their fellow schoolmates. As the reports surfaced, the Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday ordered the suspension of the teachers and Vice Principal of the school as they failed to report the incident to the police. Officials said action has been taken against the vice-principal and the school’s teachers for their “failure to act” after the students reported the assault.
The two boys, aged 12 and 13 years, have filed separate complaints with the police alleging that they were sexually assaulted by five to six classmates. Police said the alleged incident took place in April during a summer camp organised by the school.
The boy revealed that he was forcibly taken to a nearby park where he endured sexual assault for a prolonged period. He further claimed that the perpetrators had threatened him to maintain silence about the incident.
But a few days ago when the boys started troubling him again, he mustered the courage to confide in two of his teachers about the incident who asked him not to tell anyone about this, they said, adding the victim informed his parents who later made a PCR call and a case was registered on Sunday.
A separate allegation from another boy, aged 12, follows a similar pattern. The boy claimed that during the same summer camp, he too experienced sexual assault within the school restroom. Shockingly, he recounted an additional attempt at sexual assault approximately 16 days prior, which he reported to teachers in July and August. However, these educators allegedly advised him against disclosing the incident.
On Monday, Swati Maliwal, chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW), issued notices to both the Delhi Police and the Delhi government in connection with the incident. The commission was informed that the parents of the first victim became aware of the incident approximately six days ago. Upon visiting the school, the principal allegedly instructed them not to discuss the matter.
Police have registered two separate FIRs at Shahbad Dairy. The accused children have been taken into custody and sent to a juvenile detention facility. All the accused are minors and they were produced before a child welfare committee, police said, adding further investigation is on.
Kejriwal through Education Minister Atishi ordered the directorate of education to ensure rigorous training of all the principals and teachers on the provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act to avoid such incidents in future. In a note to the education secretary, Ms Atishi wrote “The incident should make us reflect and take corrective measures. We must do everything to ensure children are safe and secure at all times.”
Kejriwal has asked to prepare high-quality material for reference to all teachers and principals and issue guidelines for the schools to handle cases of abuse. The Chief Minister also directed the Directorate of Education to issue guidelines for schools to handle cases of abuse in a “supportive environment for children.” “He has asked for a high-quality material for reference of all teachers and principals to tackle such cases,” officials said.
The 13-year-old boy said he recently told his teachers about the incident– after his classmates started troubling him again – but they “didn’t do anything.” “The student then told his parents who registered a complaint on Sunday,” officials said.
