Police chief of Maharashtra Satish Mathur has set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the alleged rape of a 12-year-old minor in a government-run tribal residential school (ashram shala) in Khamgaon tehsil of Buldhana district.
Mr Mathur, director general of police (DGP), said the investigation would continue once the school re-opens. Eleven people were arrested for allegedly sexually abusing the minor.
The prime accused in the case is a peon in the school. Superintendent of Police (SP) Aarti Singh, who is presently heading the Special Investigation Department, Nagpur, has been entrusted with the responsibility of leading the probe.
Mr Mathur said that police officers were verifying if more students of the institution were sexually assaulted in the school. “A Special Investigation Team under an SP-rank officer is investigating the case,” said Mr Mathur.
He further said that two senior women IPS officers had visited the victim and the school. “Ittu Singh, the main accused, who was the only person named by the victim, stays in the school,” he said.
Mr Mathur said it was the village sarpanch who had approached the police. The police is also checking if the accused had brought girls and women from outside.
Officials said 11 people, including the headmaster, staff and members of the school management, were arrested Thursday night from various villages.
Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, commenting on the incident, said investigation under a woman officer had been ordered. “Ashram shalas that are not following the rules will face strict action and their permit will get cancelled,” he said.
Minister of state for home Deepak Kesarkar said the hearing of the case would take place in a fast track court. He said the state would make new rules for ashram shalas to avoid such incidents and a complaint box will be set up in all such government-run boarding schools for girls.
