NewsClick

NewsClick
  • हिन्दी
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Covid-19
  • Science
  • Culture
  • India
  • International
  • Sports
  • Articles
  • Videos
search
menu

INTERACTIVE ELECTION MAPS

image/svg+xml
  • All Articles
  • Newsclick Articles
  • All Videos
  • Newsclick Videos
  • हिन्दी
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Science
  • Culture
  • India
  • Sports
  • International
  • Africa
  • Latin America
  • Palestine
  • Nepal
  • Pakistan
  • Sri Lanka
  • US
  • West Asia
About us
Subscribe
Follow us Facebook - Newsclick Twitter - Newsclick RSS - Newsclick
close menu
×
For latest updates on nCOVID-19 around the world visit our INTERACTIVE COVID MAP
Gender
India

Six Tribal Girl Children Sexually Assaulted At Residential School At Chandrapur of Maharashtra

Amid protests by women’s groups and tribal organisations, the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court has constituted a committee to investigate the case following a writ petition filed by the survivors’ mothers.
Varsha Torgalkar
24 Apr 2019
tribal girls sexually assaulted maharashtra

Image Courtesy: Varsha Torgalkar

The sexual assault on six tribal girl children staying at a residential school at Rajura in Chandrapur district of Maharashtra has sent shockwaves across the state. Responding to the writ petition filed by mothers of the survivors, the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court has constituted a committee to investigate the matter and also ordered the government to compensate the survivors and deposit Rs 50,000 in the bank accounts of the girls’ mothers.

But parents and tribal organisations demand the arrest of Subhash Dhote, ex-MLA from the Congress, who owns the hostel. The investigation has been handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), in view of the severity of the issue and the failure of police to lodge an FIR immediately and find the culprits.

Meanwhile, Dhote, who is also chief of Chandrapur unit of Congress, had made a controversial statement that minor girls were coming forward with rape complaints to get compensation. He apologised after facing criticism.

After the girls aged between 8 and 13 years complained of bouts of unconsciousness and stomach ache, medical tests were conducted and it was found that the children had been sexually abused. They were staying in the hostel for tribal students run by the Infant Jesus Education Society. The hostel is under the Maharashtra government’s Namankit School Yojna for education of tribal students in English Medium. At the Rajpura hostel, 292 students are staying, including 130 girls.

As per police officials of Rajura, two girls complained of bouts of unconsciousness on April 6 and were taken to the government hospital in Chandrapur, where doctors informed that the girls had been sexually exploited.

“An FIR was lodged on April 12 invoking the Prevention of Children Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Indian Penal Code (IPC) section 376 for rape. Later, four more girls came forward with the same complaint and medical tests confirmed that they had been sexually exploited,” said a police official.

Also read: Child Rape: Modi’s Death Penalty Ordinance Is A Gimmick

“Hostel superintendent Chhaban Pachare, deputy superintendent Narendra Virutkar, hostel supervisors Kalpana Thakre and Lata Kannake, and security guard Venkat Swami have been arrested and are in police custody till April 25,” he added.

Mothers of three survivors filed a writ petition with the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court demanding enquiry and justice. ZA Haque and Vinay Joshi, judges at the Nagpur Court, on April 17 ordered constitution of a committee to investigate the matter.

The committee members include AA Ansari, additional district and session judge of Chandrapur; Dr Dipti Srirame, senior gynaecologist of government college and hospital of Nagpur; Seema Gajbhiye, tehsildar of Gondpipari tehsil; and Prabhavati Ekre, police inspector of the women’s cell.

The parents of the survivors filed the petition under the guidance of Paromita Goswami, an activist who heads the tribal rights organisation Shramik Elgar and has been working for tribals in Chandrapur district for decades.

Goswami said, “Despite the crime being severe, police have not arrested Subhash Dhote. Medical reports confirmed sexual assault on April 6 but the FIR was lodged only on April 12.”

A social activist who had talked to the survivors told Newsclick on condition of anonymity:

“Women supervisors would give an ORS (Oral Rehydration Solution)-like drink to girls after dinner. Later, the girls would start feeling unconscious. Girls said they felt like somebody would slap them and later carry them to cars. But they could not remember what had happened. Next morning they when they would not feel good, hostel rectors would tell them it was because they were given medicines.”

“As per rules, the hostel should take girls to government hospitals but this hostel would take them to private hospital when the girls would complain of stomach aches or other health problems. This time, the girls had a severe problem and hence hostel authorities had to take them to government hospital. Doctors there realised the matter is serious and she sent them to Chandrapur Government Hospital, where doctors diagnosed that the girls had been sexually assaulted,” the activist added.

A parent of one of the survivors said, “The hostel would not contact us after the girls were treated at hospitals. They would fear that the gilrs would inform us of what was happening.”

More than 8,000 people from over 30 organisations including women’s groups, tribal organisations and political parties on April 17 carried out a march from Panchayat Samiti of Rajura up to the tehsildar office of Rajura, protesting against the incident and demanding strict punishment to the guilty. Protestors also staged a ‘rasta roko’ (road blockade) at the Maharastra-Telangana border.

Chandrapur has Gond, Kolam and Pradhan tribes that work as labourers. Their kids study in residential schools, including this one which has come under the spotlight.

Baburao Madavi of Gondwanamagra Krantikari Sanghatana said, “Police should arrest chairman and general secretary of the hostel immediately. The case should be run at Fast Track courts. The guilty should be given strict punishment.”

Also read: Sexual Abuse Charges by Visually Impaired Girls in Dehradun Raise Many Questions

According to social activists, 10 to 12 more girls have complained of problems, but they are too scared to come forward. Subhash Ghote’s controversial statement had created anger among women’s organisations and tribal organisation, which have demanded his immediate arrest.

Meanwhile, the registration of the school and hostel has been revoked. Students would soon be accommodated in other schools and hostels. Until then, nobody is allowed to enter the school and hostel premises.

Get the latest reports & analysis with people's perspective on Protests, movements & deep analytical videos, discussions of the current affairs in your Telegram app. Subscribe to NewsClick's Telegram channel & get Real-Time updates on stories, as they get published on our website.
Maharashtra
Chandrapur
tribals
Sexual Assault
child sexual abuse
Protection of Children from Sexual Offences
POSCO
Related Stories
Maharashtra farmers march to Delhi

Maharashtra’s Farmers Reach Rajasthan, to Join Protest Against Farm Laws at Delhi Border

Kisan Bagh, Pune

Farmers’ Protest: Pune’s ‘Kisan Bagh’ to Amplify Farmers’ Voices

bharat bandh

20,000 Protest Sites, 22 States: Farmers’ ‘Bandh’ Call Leaves No Corner Untouched

MP tribals protest against alleged assault of farmer

MP: Tribals in Burhanpur Launch Agitation Against Alleged Assault on Farmer

General Strike Nov 26 2020

Workers, Farmers, Fishermen and Hawkers: All Gear up for Strike on 26th

Is Tying a Rakhi or Marrying the Sexual Assaulter Justice for the Victim?

Is Tying a Rakhi or Marrying the Sexual Assaulter Justice for the Victim?

Chhattisgarh: Tribal Houses Razed to Ground in Dhamtari District

Chhattisgarh: Tribal Houses Razed to Ground in Dhamtari District

Death Penalty Contributing to Annihilation of Sexual Assault Victims: NPRD

Death Penalty Contributing to Annihilation of Sexual Assault Victims: NPRD

Maharashtra Farmers' Protest

Are Maharashtra’s Coffers so Empty That it Can't Help its Farmers?

Bihar Election

Bihar Elections: Kaimur Tribals to Boycott Polls in Protest Against Proposed Tiger Reserve

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsAppShare via EmailShare on RedditShare on KindlePrint
Share
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsAppShare via EmailShare on RedditShare on KindlePrint
Share

Related Stories

PTI

Maharashtra: Spike in Covid Cases Causes Worry, Restrictions in Pune

21 February 2021
Mumbai: As Maharashtra grapples with a spike in coronavirus cases, health experts and government officials are putting t
Prudhviraj Rupavath

‘People Will Not Allow Centre to Privatise Vizag Steel Plant,’ Say Unions

03 February 2021
Hyderabad: On Wednesday morning over 1,000 employees and workers of the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant held a protes
Newsclick Report

File Appeal Against Bombay HC’s Atrocious ‘Skin-to-Skin Contact Judgment’, Demands AIDWA

27 January 2021
The All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) has released a statement denouncing the Bombay High Court’s judgement acquitting an accused of

Pagination

  • Next page ››

More

  • covid sample.

    Madhya Pradesh: COVID-19 Samples from Indore Sent for Genome Sequencing

  • Anjali Bhardwaj.

    Anjali Bharadwaj Among 12 People Named for New Anti-Graft Award by Biden Admin

  • New Varient Covid

    COVID-19: What is Known About New Variants Claimed to Have Emerged in India and Required Health Measures

  • Bombay HC Upholds Bail for Areeb Majeed Accused of Being ISIS Recruit

    Bombay HC Upholds Bail for Areeb Majeed Accused of Being ISIS Recruit

  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with
about