Zee Media Bureau
Bangalore: Amidst mounting anger over sexual assault of a six-year-old girl in a school here, city Police Commissioner Raghavendra H Auradkar on Saturday assured to take stern action against accused. No arrest has been made in the case yet. A report, meanwhile, claimed that police have detained eights suspects in the case, which has triggered huge outrage amongst parents.
Earlier, reports had claimed that the Karnataka police is likely to arrest two teachers accused in the case. Parents of the victim, accompanied by thousands of protesters, took out a silent march from Vibgyor High School where the incident occurred to a police station demanding justice for the girl and swift action against the guilty. Parents of students studying at Vibgyor High School, which is facing the brunt of public anger for its alleged inaction, were joined by a large number of people in the march which culminated near HAL Police Station.
When irate protesters surrounded the office of the commissioner of police, Auradkar assured them to take immediate action. "We are hugely pained by the incident...Have trust in the police," he added. Auradkar said from the day police received the complaint from the child`s parents, officials were on the job round-the- clock. "The incident involves a minor girl. We have to deal with the case carefully and respond sensitively keeping the girl in mind."
The protesters questioned the police chief on the status of investigation and why no arrests had been made to which Auradkar requested them to send a small batch of representatives to him as discussing it in a public meeting would hamper the probe.
The march from school premises to the police station was peaceful. Some protesters raised objections when former minister and BJP MLA Arvind Limbavali wanted to join the march, urging him not to politicise the matter.
"From the day we received the complaint from parents, our officials are continuously following the case and investigation is on," Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Kamal Panth told reporters here.
He said, "In this case as the child is involved we can`t repeatedly call the child...., we have to cautiously investigate this case, so there might be delay in the progress of the case but it should not be interpreted as police is not doing their duty.”
A team of 20 officials was involved in the probe, he said.
State Home Minister KJ George had on Friday said the accused would be arrested on Saturday as the police had conclusive leads in the case. After an hour-long meeting with top police officials in the presence of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, George had added: "We will soon set up fast-track courts cross the state to try all rape cases expeditiously to convict and punish the guilty. We will also increase the number of women police force and provide additional vehicles to step up patrolling during beats". Meanwhile, the Karnataka government has directed the ICSE board to cancel the school`s recognition. State commissioner for public instruction Mohammad Mohsin said: "We have written a letter to the ICSE (Indian Certificate of Secondary Education) board to cancel the recognition it granted to Vibgyor High School, in which a minor student was allegedly sexually assaulted by two of its staff members."
The alleged rape by "unknown persons" which reportedly occurred on July 02 but came to light on July 15, has triggered severe protests from outraged parents, who suspect the involvement of staffers, as also from civil society.
(With Agency inputs)