Mumbai: The nine-year-old Dadar schoolgirl, who was sexually assaulted, accidentally walked into the men’s toilet where the accused, a cleaner-cum-errand boy, was lurking, the police said on Sunday.
Somanth Yadav, who was remanded by the Bhoiwada metropolitan magistrate to police custody till January 12, took advantage of her when he noticed that she was alone. Though there are abrasion marks on her body suggesting sexual assault, preliminary investigations by forensic experts have not found the semen of the accused. The police have held the school management responsible for the lapses.

Yadav was booked under section 377 (unnatural sex) of the Indian Penal Code, and sections 4 and 8 (punishment for penetrative sexual assault and punishment for sexual assault and punishment for sexual harassment of children) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012.

Yadav told the police he tried to molest her but when she started crying for help, he panicked and ran away. But the police are not taking his statement at face value and are awaiting the medical report. The girl, who was admitted to a private hospital late on Friday, has been discharged.

The police have seized Yadav’s mobile phone containing some porn. Yadav had come to Mumbai from Uttar Pradesh six months back and initially did some odd jobs with the catering company which has the contract at the school and the adjoining ground, rented out for wedding receptions. “We are collecting evidence and will ensure the accused is convicted,’’ said Mahesh Patil, deputy commissioner of police (zone V).

The police will check on Monday if the accused indulged in any such act earlier with other students. The school management was unaware that the caterer’s staff were residing on the school premises and there was no security at the school. The management has called for an urgent meet on Monday to discuss safety measures. It will also decide on the caterer’s contract.

The principal has written to the management demanding CCTV cameras and security guards. “I had written this letter earlier too and have done it again yesterday. Following that, the school management called for a meeting on Monday and we expect the cameras will be installed at the earliest,” said the principal.

The premises until now were guarded only by a peon. “We have told the management to hire security even if it means paying extra. On the weekend, we have stationed a 24-hour guard and the school hall has been locked. We have told him to ensure that the caterer’s staffers do not have access to the school, except the canteen, until the management takes a decision on Monday,” said the principal.

Parents urged the state to make safety measures mandatory for schools. “Most schools take up safety after such an incident, which is not right. There need to be many precautions in place. Schools charge us heavily and on top of the priority list of spending this money is to provide security. If schools aren’t doing it, maybe the government should make it mandatory,” said Prema Raj, a parent from Mulund.

School education minister Vinod Tawde said the state was looking into the issue.

Experts said that not only was there a need for safety infrastructure but schools must also ensure a personal safety education programme to help students identify unsafe situations and avoid a larger problem. “An attitudinal change is required. Even in case of lack of funds, there can be mechanisms to ensure safety if teachers and staffers take up the responsibility. Parents too can be involved,” said Pooja Taparia, founder and CEO of Arpan, which works for the prevention of child sexual abuse. “There are many laws but the problem is implementation. Making safety measures mandatory will be great but there needs to be a body to monitor it,” she added.

Advisory for parents: Signs to look out for * Drop in academic performance * Repeated urinary infections * Unexplained pain or swelling in genital area * Excessive increase/decrease in food intake or sudden

weight loss/gain * Sudden disproportionate fear of a

place/person/colours * Seems sad, talks little * Social withdrawal, hostility or aggression * Suicide attempts * Passive or overly pleasing behaviour * Hints, indirect comments about abuse * Use of abusive sexual language * Sexual activity at an early age

(Source: Arpan)

Advisory for schools * Have regular workshops for students and staff to

educate them about child sexual abuse * Have a child protection policy in place * Ensure background checks of all employees * Keep channels of communication open with students

and parents.

The law | The Protection of Children from Sexual

Offences Act, 2012, provides for severe punishment for

child sexual offenders. The child’s statement must be

recorded at the child’s residence or at a place of his/her

choice. Any person who does not report an offence or

fails to record it is liable for punishment with

imprisonment for up to six months and a fine or both

Helplines Arpan | 2686 2444/2686 8444 Childline | 1098

Five arrested for raping mentally challenged girl in Thane

Five persons were arrested on Sunday for raping a young mentally challenged girl from Lokmanya Nagar on Friday. The girl was targeted when she was returning home after running errands. A neighbour first raped her at his home. She was then lured by an auto driver who took her to an isolated spot near the bus depot. The driver called three friends and they allegedly raped her till early on Saturday. They then drove her down to her locality the next morning. The girl showed a number scribbled on a paper, which one of the accused had handed her, telling her to contact him later, inspector Ravidatt Sawant said. –Manoj Badgeri

Three minors booked for raping 13-year-old in Cuffe Parade

Mumbai: Three minors, aged 11-17, were booked for raping a 13-year-old girl between November and December last year in Cuffe Parade in South Mumbai. The police registered a case of rape under POCSO and have sent them to juvenile custody at the Dongri home. The police said the girl recently reported pain in her stomach and a medical examination revealed that she had been sexually assaulted. She later admitted the three, under the pretext of studying and playing with her, used to rape her on a building terrace. “We have sent the minors to juvenile custody and investigations are on,” said Dhananjay Kulkarni, deputy commissioner of police. -S Ahmed Ali

Source : The Times Of India