Delhi: Man Enters Classroom, Sexually Assaults Two Girls. DCW Issues Notice To Police, EDMC
The DCW said the students were waiting for their teacher inside the class when an unknown man entered the classroom after the school assembly on April 30.
New Delhi: The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) on Wednesday said a man allegedly entered the classroom of a civic body-run school in east Delhi and sexually assaulted two eight-year-old girls before undressing himself and urinating in front of the students. The DCW, which has issued a notice to the police and East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) in connection with this matter, claimed that the students were told to keep quiet and forget the incident when they informed the principal and class teacher about it, PTI reported.
The DCW said the students were waiting for their teacher inside the class when an unknown man entered the classroom after the school assembly on April 30.
Asserting this is a serious matter and warrants immediate action, the DCW in its notice said that he allegedly removed the clothes of a girl and muttered obscenities at her.
“Then he walked over to another girl and removed her clothes and his clothes as well. Thereafter, the accused closed the door of the classroom and urinated in front of the students,” the notice added.
DCW chief Swati Maliwal said it is “totally unacceptable” that such a grievous crime happened in “broad daylight in the school” and the authorities tried to “hush up the matter” instead of reporting it.
“MCD must explain as to how was this allowed to happen? Delhi Police must immediately arrest the accused and initiate action under the POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act against those responsible for trying to conceal the matter,” she said.
The DCW has sought from the police a copy of the FIR, details of the accused, whether the victims have been produced before a child welfare committee and details of action taken against the class teacher and principal under the POCSO Act.
Seeking information in this regard by May 6, the panel has also summoned the east MCD commissioner, asking him to appear before it within 48 hours.
The DCW has sought a detailed report on the incident from the civic body along with reasons for the security lapse and action taken against those responsible.
The DCW has also asked the East Delhi civic body to provide CCTV footage of the school along with details of provisions in place for keeping a check on the visitors.
The panel said in case the school does not have CCTV cameras, the East MCD Commissioner has been asked to inform the reasons for the same and whether any proposal for installation of CCTV cameras is pending before the civic body.
The Delhi Police on its part said that cognizance was taken immediately of this matter, adding a case has been registered under the POCSO Act and an investigation has been taken up.
A senior police officer said that a special team has been formed to investigate the matter.
“Also, special wings of the force have been roped in to assist the police station team in the probe,” he added, PTI reported.
The police officer said that no CCTV camera was installed at the entrance of the school and on the premises.
"It was an MCD school and no CCTV was found installed at the entrance or inside the school. However, a number of CCTVs have been examined in the vicinity to trail the suspect,” said the police officer.
“Based on the description given by the girls, a portrait of the suspect has been prepared and two people have been zeroed-in. The police team is working in close coordination with school officials,” he added.
Stating a “lapse” has happened, East Delhi Mayor Shyam Sunder Aggarwal said a probe has been ordered into the matter.
Aggarwal said the East Delhi Mayor conceded that a lapse has happened at the school.
“We are getting the incident probed and strict action will be taken against those found guilty,” he added.
The East Delhi Mayor said this incident occurred earlier on Saturday morning and the EDMC has received the DCW notice in this regard.
Responding to a poser if a security guard was on duty when the man allegedly entered the school premises, Aggarwal said: “A guard is on night duty. During the day, the school gates are latched from the inside and sanitation or other staff only let people in with due authorisation.”
“The municipal corporation is cash-strapped. So, it is difficult to post guards throughout the day,” he added.
The civic body-run schools have students up to class 5.
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