MUMBAI: After the principal of a private school in Vasai filed a prompt FIR upon being informed about a 7-year-old student being sexually abused by a canteen boy, he has been sent to a remand home and the police are investigating whether the accused targeted other girls in the school.
The matter came to light on Thursday when the girl’s reluctance to go to the canteen raised suspicions, prompting the class teacher to investigate further.Upon questioning, the girl revealed she was being troubled by a canteen ‘uncle’.
After coaxing details from her, the class teacher immediately informed the principal about the sexual abuse, who contacted the parents. Despite their initial hesitation, the principal filed a police complaint on Thursday itself.
The school canteen is run by a private contractor who is being questioned. The accused, who joined the canteen two months ago after moving to the city from Uttar Pradesh, did not undergo police verification, although his Aadhaar card details were provided to the authorities. The police have contacted their counterparts and the teen’s family for more information. He was staying in a nearby locality with other men.
The school, which has been operating for over 14 years, has more than 2,200 students from pre-primary to class 12. The entire premises is under CCTV surveillance, and recordings have been shared with the police. Following the Badlapur case, the local police in the Vasai region conducted a workshop for principals and teachers on August 21, advising them to report any sexual abuse to the authorities immediately. Schools were also urged to enhance student security, install complaint boxes, and set up sexual harassment committees.
The state has directed educational institutions to have control rooms for monitoring live footage during school hours. Most schools install monitors in principals’ and staff rooms, where live monitoring is not always possible.
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