1 held, 2 suspended in Nashik tribal school minor rape case

One person has been arrested and two others suspended in case of the rape of a minor girl from a tribal school in Peint taluka of Nashik district.

According to police sources, a 13-year-old girl, studying in Imambari government ashram school in the tribal-dominated Peint taluka of Nashik district was allegedly raped by a youth four days ago. The girl was found in an unconscious state behind the school on Sunday.

According to a social worker in the region Mangala Gosavi, the girl was absent from school two days before she was found. She charged the school authorities of negligence, and taking no action even as the girl was missing.

On Sunday evening, the girl was brought to Nashik civil hospital for treatment. She was discharged after a few hours.

Maharashtra minister for tribal development Babanrao Pachpute who was in Nashik on Monday spoke to the media announcing the suspension of the headmaster of the Imambari ashram shala BS Nathe and a teacher of the school. He also agreed for the need to strengthen the fabric of government ashram shalas.

It may be recollected that six months ago a similar case of rape was encountered at the Nalegaon ashram school in Nashik district.

Police had on Sunday detained a person said to be the father of the youth alleged for the  rape, while the youth was absconding. On Monday, the youth -- Yuvraj Bhandange -- was arrested.

It is reported that the accused, a person known to the family of the victim, had called the girl and her brother. After sending the boy away, he is said to have raped the girl.

Members of the Janwadi Mahila Aaghadi held demonstrations at the Tribal development office in Nashik and presented a memorandum to the tribal development minister.