Bangalore: Six-year-old sexually assaulted in school, one arrested

In the second such instance in the past 10 days, a six-year-old was sexually assaulted in a private school in Bangalore. According to reports, the child was assaulted on October 28 and 29 came home complaining of stomach ache on Wednesday, after which she was taken for a medical checkup.

Additional Commissioner of Police (ACP) Alok Kumar said one person who belongs to the teaching staff has been arrested in connection with the case.

"He will be subsequently produced before the court and then 164 statement as per the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) act provision in respect of the victim we will get it conducted. We'll see if there is any criminal negligence or criminal involvement on the part and we will take suitable step," said Kumar.

The ACP also blamed the school authorities for not following the guidelines issued after a six-year-old was allegedly raped in July.

"So many things which were meant to be implemented haven't been implemented till now. So we will bring it to the notice of the High Court also because the next date of hearing is November 7 and the High Court will take serious view of this thing," said Kumar.

"We had issued nine guidelines. Under section 188 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) we had taken up the July case despite that they have put only four CCTV cameras and so far as the security staff is concerned only one person is there who has to look after for 24 hours, which is not possible," he added.

Meanwhile, members of Dalitha Samaraksha Samithi-Karnataka staged a protest outside the school where the incident occured.

"Firstly there is no fear of law which has to be implemented. From the very first school where this incident happened from that day we are continuously protesting and in the Bangalore city every parent has raised up for the incident and most of the parents were participating in the protest. The commissioner assured of fast track execution, but there was no such thing," said a former Member of Legislative Assembly and parent, Nandish Reddy.

Nandish also asked the parents to raise their voice and demanded the death penalty for the culprits.

Delhi Commission for Women Chairperson Barkha Shukla Singh also condemned the incident saying, "If even schools are not safe then where will the children go to study? The only option left is to give on the spot punishment to the guilty."

This is the third incident of rape with a minor after a three-year-old nursery student was allegedly raped in a private school in Bangalore and a six-year-old girl was allegedly raped by two gym instructors inside the premises of another private school on July 3.