Roundup: Parents stage protests over sexual abuse of 4-year-old at school in India

by Peerzada Arshad Hamid

NEW DELHI, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) -- Dozens of parents staged protest and clashed with police outside a prominent school in Indian's eastern state of West Bengal to protest sexual abuse of a four-year-old girl student, police said Saturday.

The agitated parents demonstrated at G D Birla Education Centre in Kolkata city, the capital of West Bengal, demanding arrest of school principal and strong punishment to the accused.

Police have already arrested two physical training teachers on Friday evening in the case. The teachers reportedly lured the girl child into the school toilet by offering her chocolates and then sexually assaulted her.

"Yesterday the parents protested outside the school demanding arrest of principal," a police official said, adding that "the parents continued to protest despite the police trying to negotiate with them. After the principal and the teachers were taken out of the premises at around 1:00 a.m. (local time) today, there was a scuffle between a few police personnel and the parents."

The protesters assembled again Saturday morning.

"At around 6:00 this morning, a group of parents, including the father of the four-year-old victim, returned to stage fresh protests at the school gate," residents said.

Local media reports said several people including college teachers showed up in solidarity, demanding strict action be against the school.

On Thursday when mother of the girl went to collect her from school at around 4:00 p.m. (local time), she noticed blood stains on her clothes. The girl was crying and complained of pain, following which her parents took her to doctor, who declared she had been sexually assaulted.

The parents subsequently rushed with the child to a police station and registered a complaint.

Parents alleged that there were no working security cameras installed despite the fact that three years ago, a six-year-old girl in the same school was sexually assaulted allegedly by a school bus driver.

West Bengal Education Minister Partha Chatterjee said he was looking into the incident with "utmost seriousness."

"I have no words to condemn the incident. Strongest punishment should be given to those responsible for the incident," Chatterjee said.

Meanwhile, West Bengal Commission for the Protection of Child Rights chairperson Ananya Chakraborty has demanded an inquiry into the shameful incident.

"I have asked the school authorities why CCTVs were not installed there in the last three years, but they have no answer. They said it will be done this month. I am not satisfied with their answer," Chakraborty said. "We want full investigation into the incident."

Sexual attacks on women and girls in India puts a question mark on their safety.

In December 2002, a fatal gang-rape of a medical student in New Delhi brought spotlight on crimes against women in India.

The incident saw huge protests and resulted in new anti-rape laws in the country. However, brutal sexual attacks against women and girls continue to be reported across India. Enditem