5-year-old's rape in school strikes panic in parents' hearts

Are children safe at school? Should they be accompanied everywhere? Should they even be sent to school? When the children are at school, who is responsible for their safety? These are some of the questions assailing the minds of parents in areas including Gandhinagar, where a five-year-old child was raped inside her school premises by a staffer on Saturday.

A woman, whose both children study at the same school, said: "I don't feel like sending them to school now. The school must be shut down immediately. It might not be a solution but at least would serve as an example for others."

Many parents were also of the opinion that the school does not have a robust sex education programme and the kids were not taught about 'good touch, bad touch'.

Cousins of the victim, who live in the vicinity, said the school used to hold extra classes after the working hours were over. "The school would be almost empty at such times. Someone has to take responsibility for the children's safety. It's the school's job to conduct a background check of people functioning under them," said another parent.

Meanwhile, Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik has issued an advisory, directing all district Deputy Commissioners of Police to conduct meetings with various schools in the area to increase security of children. Among other things, the top cop has directed that CCTV cameras be installed at all vulnerable areas inside the school premises. He has also stated that police verification for staffers employed, especially bus drivers, conductors, and peons is a must.