School girl-rape: Goa Congress demands Parrikar head on moral high ground

Alleging that the law and order situation in Goa has deteriorated, state Congress on Friday demanded resignation of chief minister Manohar Parrikar in the wake of the rape of a seven-year old girl in a school in Vasco town.

Goa Congress spokesman Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco told reporters here on Friday that Parrikar, who is also the state home minister, should own up the moral responsibility and step down from his post.

Police were reluctant even to take action against the school authorities, which had goofed up the entire case by trying to destroy the evidence after the rape incident, Lourenco said. The girl was raped in the toilet of her school in the port town of Vasco on Monday. The victim's parents have alleged that the school staff tried to destroy the evidence of the crime.

Congress said that the state government was not serious about arresting the culprit, who is still at large. Quoting the statement given by teachers to the police, Laurenco said the accused was released from the school campus after giving him warning, when he was noticed loitering in the campus. Apparently, the man returned and raped the girl.

"Why did the school not ensure that the gates are closed and the same person is not allowed to enter in again?," questioned Lourenco, while demanding that those responsible for negligence should be arrested.