Kerala to ban mobiles in schools due to misuse

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala government is planning to ban use of mobile phones in educational institutions in the wake of complaints that the gadget is
misused including to sexually exploit girls.

Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan told the state assembly Thursday that the government has taken serious view of complaints that mobile phones have been widely misused in these institutions and is planning to put a ban on their use there.

He was replying to a submission on the case connected with recent suicide of three school girls at the school complex at Ambalapuzha in Alappuzha district.
    
Balakrishnan said investigation into the case was progressing and government would take further steps after getting the report of the police.
     
Education Minister M A Baby said use of mobile phones were banned in the state upto higher secondary school level. Taking up the matter, K C Venugopal (Cong) said girls were victims of sexual harassment and blackmailing. Mobile video clippings of girls being subjected to sexual perversions by some youths have also surfaced, he said and wanted the culprits to be brought to book.
    
The girls, studying in plus-two (12th) in the Government Model Vocational Higher Secondary School, committed suicide inside a classroom on November 17 night.
   
The initial police version, based on statements of the teachers of the school and the suicide note recovered from the spot, was that the trio had committed suicide under emotional stress caused by failed love affairs.
    
The post-mortem report revealed that the girls in the 17-18 age group were ''subjected to sexual act''.