Buldhana rape case: Accused sent to week-long police custody

Eleven persons arrested in connection with alleged rape of a minor girl at an ashram school in Maharashtra's Buldhana district have been remanded in police custody for a week by a local court. While the case was registered against 13 persons yesterday, two are absconding. Those arrested include staff members of the school who allegedly did not report the incident to the police.

Ashram shalas are government-run or government-aided residential schools, mainly for tribal children. Eleven persons, including the main accused Ittusingh Pawar (23) who worked as a sweeper in the school, the headmaster, staff and members of the school management were arrested on Thursday night. They were produced in the court late yesterday evening, which remanded them in police custody for a week.

Pawar has been charged under section 376 (rape) of the Indian Penal Code while others were booked under various other relevant sections. The incident came to light after former Maharashtra minister Eknath Khadse was approached by the family of the victim who hails from his Assembly constituency Muktainagar.

According to police, the girl, a std IV student at Nanji Kokare Adivasi Ashramshala at Lokanda Pala in Khamgaon taluka of Buldhana district, told her parents about the rape when she went home for Diwali vacations. Police are looking for Bharat Vishwasrao Lahudkar, headmaster of primary section, and the clerk Vijay Kokare. Those who were remanded in police custody include president of the institute which runs the school, Gajanan Kokare, secretary Sanjay Kokare, joint Secretary Purushottam Kokare and the main accused Pawar.