Bangalore minor sexual assault: CM warns schools as public rage spirals

Bengaluru: Amid public outrage over a spate of sexual assaults on minor girls, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah today warned managements that permission granted to their schools would be revoked and criminal cases booked against them if they violate guidelines for safety of children. “Sexual assaults on minor girls have made the civil society hang its head in shame. Even beasts don’t behave like this. It is inhuman and condemnable,” he said, as public anger grew over the latest sexual assault of a six-year old girl in the fourth such incident in as many months in schools here. [caption id=“attachment_1772493” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational image. Reuters[/caption] As the recurring incidents also brought his government in the line of fire, Siddaramaiah said, “Once the children enter the school, it is the responsibility of the institution to provide all safety measures to a boy or a girl.” Addressing the main 59th “Karnataka Rajyotsava” (state formation day) function here, he said police had slapped criminal charges against the culprits in minor girls sexual assault cases in the city. Goondas Act would be invoked against the culprits and government had already taken various steps like amending laws, forming expert committees and issuing safety guidelines, to check such incidents from taking place, Siddaramaiah said. Government was considering setting up fast-track courts to ensure speedy trials relating to sexual assault on minor children, Siddaramaiah said. “Heads of school managements should join hands with government to curb such incidents.” A teacher was arrested yesterday for the alleged sexual assault of a 6-year old girl in a school, which according to police officials was found to have violated safety norms. Bengaluru Police Commissioner had recently issued guidelines listing the steps to be taken by schools, including installing CCTVs, to ensure safety of girl students. An eight-year-old girl was allegedly sexually assaulted by her 63-year-old teacher inside her school premises over a period of time. The offence came to light in early August. A month before, a six-year-old girl was allegedly raped at ‘Vibgyor High’ school premises here which led to street protests. On demand from some sections for a separate North Karnataka state over its alleged neglect, Siddaramaiah said under no circumstances will the state be allowed to be divided. “Some disgruntled elements are talking about division in the name of development. They should not be given any importance,” he said. He said the government will not tolerate any attempt to strike at the idea of unified Karnataka for which several stalwarts in the state had fought. The Chief Minister also said the government is committed to the all-round development in the state including Hyderabad-Karnataka region. Kannada should be made the supreme language in Karnataka by creating an atmosphere of inevitability of the language, he said. PTI