After Ryan International murder, Class I student sexually assaulted in South Delhi school; magisterial probe ordered

A Class I student was allegedly sexually assaulted at Sant Nirakari Public School in Malaviya Nagar in South Delhi, nearly a month after a Class II student was found dead in Gurugram’s Ryan International School, triggering fresh concerns over student safety in schools on Thursday. The incident was reported on Wednesday. Delhi’s Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident.

[caption id=“attachment_3789947” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. Reuters[/caption] The six-year-old girl went home and narrated her ordeal to her parents who informed the school and registered a complaint with the police. Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Chinmoy Biswal said the Class I student was sexually assaulted around 1 pm on Wednesday at the Sant Nirankari School in Malviya Nagar by accused sweeper Rakesh, 22. Biswal said the parents informed police about the crime around 8 pm on Wednesday. According to CNN-News18, the girl had gone to the washroom and called for a woman attendant for help. Instead a male member of housekeeping staff entered the washroom and allegedly assaulted her. The accused, a resident of Dakshinpuri, has been arrested and is presently in judicial custody. A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO). On Thursday evening, Delhi chief minister’s media adviser Nagendar Sharma tweeted that Sisodia had directed Chief Secretary MM Kutty for a magisterial probe into the matter. A Delhi government official told IANS that members of the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights will visit the school on Friday. According to the police, the accused had joined the school three months ago. The complainant mentioned they wanted to press charges against the school as well. CNN-News18 further reported the girl was counselled and is now out of the hospital. The school flouted Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) guidelines with male housekeeping staff entering girls’ washroom. In view of the Ryan International School murder, CBSE had issued fresh regulations  on 12 September to protect children from assault of any sort, including training the staff to ensure student safety. On Thursday, the CBSE filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court stating Ryan International School did not have sufficient CCTV cameras and separate bathrooms for staff, reported ANI.  With inputs from PTI and IANS