Haryana SHOCKER: 142 minor girls sexually abused by principal of Jind Govt school, arrested
A government school principal in Haryana’s Jind district is accused of sexually abusing as many as 142 minor schoolgirls over a period of six years.
Haryana News: A disturbing incident has come to light in Haryana’s Jind district where a principal of a government-run school has been accused of sexually abusing as many as 142 minor girl students enrolled at the institution.
According to officials, the principal, who has now been arrested, sexually abused 142 girl students – all minors – over a six-year period. A senior official said that an inquiry committee headed by a senior officer has taken statements from 390 girls, in the case of which 142 girls alleged that they were sexually abused by the accused while the others stated that they witnessed the heinous acts committed by their schoolmates happened.
“An inquiry committee headed by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) has recorded the statements of a total of 390 girls and we have forwarded complaints of 142 cases of sexual assault against girls to senior officials of the Ministry of Education for further action,” said Jind deputy. Commissioner Mohammad Imran Raza told news agency ANI on Wednesday.
“Of these 142 girls, the majority accused the principal of sexually abusing them, while the rest said they witnessed the heinous acts. The accused director is currently behind bars,” Raza said.
Girls wrote to the Prime Minister earlier this year
Notably, on August 31 this year, around 15 girls had written a letter to President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, National Commission for Women and State Women Commission, among others, informing them about the disturbing acts. by the director.
On September 13, the Haryana Women’s Commission finally took note of the letter and forwarded it to the Jind police for action the next day, September 14. However, it was alleged that the police dragged their feet in the case and filed an FIR much later. on October 30.
The suspect was arrested on November 4 and produced before the court on November 7, which remanded the accused director in pre-trial detention on November 7.
Earlier, the State Women Commission said that 60 girls from the government school had come forward to record their statements against the principal. However, the number has now risen to 142, officials said.
‘Officials did not act quickly’
A legal expert said the district officials, including police and Education Ministry officials, did not act immediately, adding that the POCSO Act, especially subsections 19, 20 and 21, stipulate that an FIR must be on be registered at the earliest if sexual harassment of an underage girl is reported.
Activists also wondered why it took the police a month and a half to register the FIR against the suspects.
Meanwhile, DC Raza said, “The principal was found prima facie guilty during an investigation conducted by a team of three (district) officials of the rank of Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM). Now, charges will be filed against the suspect for his dismissal and denial of benefits that come with his job.”
The decision on further action against the arrested director would be taken after filing the chargesheet, the deputy commissioner said, adding that Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Harish Vasisth has been deputed for further investigation into the matter.
On November 16, a six-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed under the leadership of Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Deepti Garg to probe the allegations against the director.
Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Shrikant Jadhav directed the investigation team to submit a report within ten days and also arrange counseling for the minor girls who were allegedly preyed upon by the director.
(With ANI inputs)