C`garh CM condemns rapes at Kanker school

Raipur: Condemning the alleged rape of minor inmates of a government-run residential school for tribal girls in Chhattisgarh`s Kanker district, state Chief Minister Raman Singh on Tuesday said even death sentence was not enough punishment for the offenders.

"(Even) death sentence is not enough punishment for those who commit assault on women and God also will not forgive those offenders," Raman Singh said in a statement. Two persons, including a teacher, were arrested on Sunday for allegedly raping minor inmates of the government-run residential school in Kanker. Contractual teacher Mannu Ram Gota (24) and school watchman Deenaram were arrested in connection with the crime. Medical examination had confirmed rape of nine out of the 40 students, who are residing at the hostel located in Narharpur police station limits, police had said even as medical tests were still underway. "If people associated with the holy profession like teaching were committing such a crime then they do not have a moral right to be called teachers," Singh said. According to official sources, investigation in the case has been geared up keeping in view the outrage sparked across the state over the incident. The government has already suspended the Assistant Commissioner (in-charge), Tribal Development Department S K Vahane and Block Education Officer (BEO) S S Navarji after the offence came to light. Meanwhile, Women and Child Development Minister Lata Usendi along with Kanker MLA Sumitra Markole, State Commission for Child Rights Chairman Yashwant Jain, Bastar Division Commissioner Durgesh Chandra Mishra and Collector Alarmelmangai D visited the residential school yesterday evening and talked to the students, their parents and local people. The Collector has directed the sector supervisors of the women and child development department and anganwadi workers to conduct inspection in all girls` ashrams (residential schools) and girls` hostels of the district. She said the inspection team will check the facilities which were being provided in the residential schools and hostels while they will also interact with the inmates to know whether they were facing any kind of problem. The officials have been told to submit their report within 15 days, the Collector added. The main opposition Congress had yesterday demanded dismissal of the state government over the issue. In a memorandum to Chhattisgarh Governor, the Congress had said that the government failed to ensure safety of the girls in state and demanded its dismissal. Congress has also given a statewide bandh call on January 9 to protest the incident. PTI