Bangalore: Another 6-year-old raped twice in school, teacher arrested

Safety of children in Bangalore’s private schools continues to come under the scanner, with reports emerging of another 6-year-old who was raped in a private school in East Bangalore. According to a Times of India report, the victim was allegedly raped twice (on 28 and 29 October) and the incident only came to light when the girl complained of an infection. The report says that the girl was raped by a Hindi teacher named Jaishankar who has been arrested by the police. According to the report, “when the class I student complained of irritation in her private parts, her mother thought it was an infection,” and the daughter complained again she took her to a “gynecologist, who confirmed the sexual assault but refused to give it in writing or help further with police procedures.” The report adds that the mother is “a housekeeping employee at a private firm,” and it was only when her colleagues came forward to help her that some action was taken. Shockingly they didn’t get any response from the Child Helpline and it was only after they got in touch with the “Child Welfare Committee,” that further action was taken. [caption id=“attachment_1768139” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Bangalore residents protest the rising sexual assault cases in the city. PTI[/caption] The parents filed the case at the Jeevan Bima Nagar police station and here the child “identified the teacher by name,” adds the report. “We have arrested the accused, Jaishankar, on a complaint by the victim’s parents that he had allegedly raped their young daughter twice in the school in Indirangar area,” Additional Commissioner of Police Alok Kumar told reporters. A criminal case was registered against Jaishankar under sections 4 and 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 and section 376 of the Indian Penal Code on the complaint, which is based on the victim’s version. “The sexual assault seems to have taken place on two occasions - 28-29 October. We are questioning the accused for details,” Kumar said. Meanwhile a complaint has been filed against the school for not complying with safety guidelines issued by police. The guidelines had been issued after a 6-year-old was gangraped in Bangalore school sparking massive protests from the parents. More recently a three-year-old was sexually assaulted in her school by an attendant. With another rape being reported within days of the older incident, it is clear that Bangalore’s schools need more than just guidelines to keep children safe. With inputs from IANS