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One of the 12 minor tribal students was raped at knifepoint for 6 months

Two accused absconding * Police say the number of victims likely to go up

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The school in Buldhana where the tribal girls were allegedly raped.
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Panic, shock and anger surround the families of the tribal girls who were allegedly raped by their school staffers in Buldhana, Maharashtra, as the police continue their probe. On Friday, DNA had reported that 12 girls, aged between 12 and 14 years, had been allegedly raped in their boarding school in Hivarkheda village. The rape accused include peons, teachers, and even two headmasters. In fact, one of them was allegedly raped for six months at knifepoint.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT), probing the incident, said that it is likely that the number of victims may increase. Currently, there are 10 accused in the incident, out of which eight have been arrested. Two are absconding.
The probe has also revealed that the main culprit, a peon, was not even on the roster of the school and was being paid by the school peon to work in his place.

The accused are Etusingh Pawar (Assistant), BV Lahudkar (Headmaster for primary school), DR Kharat (Headmaster for secondary school), SB Lakhe (Assistant), ND Ambhare (Superintendent), Deepak Kokare (Kitchen Staffer), Ms MG Vajire (Superintendent), Vijay Kokare (Clerk), Mrs Manta Kokare (Kitchen Staffer) and Mrs Raut (Assistant). Lahudkar and Kokare are absconding.

SD Baviskar, Superintendent of Police, Buldhana, said that they have booked the accused under IPC Section 376 (rape) and under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO).

Recounting the incident, the mother of one of the victims, said that Etusingh Pawar (an assistant) had told her daughter that during the night, the bedroom door should be kept open. "When my daughter questioned him, he threatened to kill her if she did not do so. My daughter got scared and kept the door open. Etusingh came at midnight and forcefully pulled her into the next room. He was carrying a knife. This became routine for him and he raped the girl for six months at knifepoint. One by one, other school staffers also started exploiting the girls."

Another parent said that when his daughter complained about a similar incident to the headmaster, he threatened to thrown her out of the school. A senior police officer said that despite the incident coming to light, some parents and girls were not complaining or undergoing medical tests. "No one wants the stigma. This could affect the probe," he said.

Maharashtra Tribal Minister Vishnu Savara said that they are taking the statements of the victims and sending them for medical examinations. "The medical report (of the examined girls) are still being awaited." However, a source said that the report has confirmed rape of the first girl.

On justice for the victims, Savara said that within a month, the charge sheet would be filed. "We have asked the authorities to fast-track the case."

Securing child rights

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has written to the Superintendent of Police and the Buldhana District Collector to submit a report on the rape incident with 10 days. "We have sought a copy of the FIR, the medico-legal report and the recorded statements under Section 13(1)(j) of the CPCR Act, 2005. We have also demanded from the district administration a report on the steps they taken," said Yashwant Jain, member, NCPCR. The NCPCR has also demanded that the girls be given adequate medical and psychological help.

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