In a shocking incident which exposes the functioning of the reputed boarding schools of Dehradun, the director and principal of one such school have been arrested on the charge of making attempts  to hush up an alleged rape of a Class X student of the school. The rape survivor alleged that four students of the same school had sexually abused her following which she had become pregnant. The school management has been accused of trying to abort the foetus of the rape survivor. The police have arrested nine persons so far in connection with the crime.

On Tuesday, the police produced the director of the school Lata Gupta, principal Jitendra Sharma, administrative officer Deepak, his wife Tanu and maid Manju in the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) court. The court sent the accused to judicial custody till October 1.

Informing about the case, the circle officer (CO) Vikasnagar, Bhupendra Singh Dhoni said that the four minor accused of the rape had been presented before the juvenile court. Before producing the accused in the court, the police had conducted medical examination of the accused. Besides, the statement of the survivor has also been recorded in the court, CO said. 

Meanwhile, Rashtriya Hindu Vahini activists staged a demonstration before the school on Tuesday and   demanded immediate shutdown of the school.

Edu department for cancellation of recognition

Taking a serious note of the alleged rape of a minor in a school, the Education Department of Dehradun on Tuesday sent its team to inspect the school located in the Bahuwala area. The chief education officer (CEO) Dehradun, S B Joshi said that the team led by block education officer (BEO) of Sahaspur, Pankaj Sharma had visited the CBSE-affiliated school on the day. The team had found the administrative block locked, Joshi said and added that the school had been registered under day boarding category and had 357 enrolled students. As per the records, 33 senior students are staying in the boys’ hostel while eight senior girls are staying in the girls’ hostel.

The team has found five girl students staying in the hostel on the day, Joshi said, adding that the department team has also found glaring discrepancies like absence of CCTV cameras in the school building. Joshi said that based on the report of the team, he has recommended cancellation of recognition of the school.

The Incident

The incident of the rape of the class X girl is said to have happened on August 14 when four senior boys allegedly sexually exploited her in the school premises. As per the victim, she had narrated the incident to the maid (Aaya) of the hostel who asked her to keep her mouth shut.

It is learnt that the maid later informed the higher-ups of the school about the incident but everyone scolded the girl. Later when the girl became pregnant, the school administration even tried to abort the foetus, the allegation runs.