The headmaster of a government-funded residential school for the deaf and dumb has been accused of sodomising about 10 students. The sufferings of the children came to light at a meeting on child rights at Davangere recently.
The headmaster of a government-funded residential school for the deaf and dumb has been accused of sodomising about 10 students. The sufferings of the children came to light at a meeting on child rights at Davangere recently.
The students, aged between 16 and 18, of Sri Mouneshwari Deaf and Dumb Residential School at Davangere, reportedly communicated the ordeal they had been suffering at the hands of the headmaster, Mallapa Shetti Itagi, through sign language.
“Our headmaster sexually abused me in the hostel several times. I have seen him abusing other boys also,” Suresh P (name changed) said through sign language.
“No one wants to stay in the hostel anymore,” he added.
The residential school run for the special children is funded by both state and central government. Currently, the school has 60 boys as students. Most of them belong to poor families, and have no other alternative but to stay in the hostel to pursue their education.
When this correspondent contacted the school, the authorities denied the allegations. Deputy commissioner of Davangere PS Vastrad, after receiving complaints from members of various voluntary organisations on behalf of the children, promised to investigate the matter.
Chairperson of Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR) Nina Nayak called for a thorough investigation into the matter.
“If found guilty, the headmaster should be punished severely. It’s a heinous crime and should not be repeated,” she added. Janardhana, programme manager of the Association of People with Disability, Bangalore, said written complaints on behalf of several organisations working for the disabled people had been sent to KSCPCR, offices of district session court judge and deputy commissioner of Davanagere, and district legal service authority. “These are serious allegations and need to be properly investigated. We cannot allow innocent children suffer sexually and physically at the hands of others. Moreover, these children are disabled and have speech and hearing impairment,” added Janardhana.
“It’s sad that children who cannot communicate like normal people have to endure horrible pain at the hands of a person who is supposed to be their caretaker,” said Y Mariswamy, a child rights’ activist. In fact, the district legal service authority has sent a notice to the school authorities, based on the complaints filed against it by voluntary organisations. The headmaster allegedly thrashed three students after getting the notice.
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