Bengaluru: Angry parents whose children study in the playschool where a child was allegedly sexually assaulted last Friday continued to demand more accountability. On Tuesday, many claimed that their children, too, had complained about ‘inappropriate behaviour’ by Manjunath V., who was the supervisor of the school and has been arrested.
Although the pre-school has been closed until further notice, over 60 parents expressed their angst to V.S. Ugrappa, MLC and Chairman, Expert Committee on Prevention of Sexual Violence against Women and Children, who visited the school on Tuesday evening. “Two other parents told us that similar incidents had taken place with their children. We have asked the police to accept their individual complaints and lodge separate FIRs,” said Mr. Ugrappa. They told him that the Marathahalli police had refused to take their complaints when they had sought action against the school management.
“All police officers at the station have been instructed to take down complaints of parents who are alleging that their children too have been sexually assaulted or harassed. Parents have to make these complaints individually for FIRs to be registered,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Whitefield division) Narayana M.
On Tuesday night, many parents went to Marathahalli police station to lodge separate complaints.
Parents allege leniency
Parents demanded that the playschool be closed permanently. Many pointed out that Manjunath was residing in the school campus. “Despite a separate entrance to his house, how can they allow him to stay in the school premises,” said one angry parent.
The mother of the three-and-half-year-old victim wants the members of the management and staff, who were arrested on Tuesday for failing to comply with the State Child Protection Policy, to be booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. “We wanted a case to be booked under POCSO Act, as the school tried to brush the allegations aside. But the police have arrested them under Section 188, which is bailable.”
Also, parents pointed out that the police had not booked Manjunath under Section 5 (f) of the POCSO Act. The clause is supposed to be invoked if the act takes place in an educational institution by a staff member and the accused, if convicted, has to be in jail for a minimum of 10 years to a maximum of life imprisonment.
As of now, he has been booked under Sections 3 & 4 of the POCSO Act for which the minimum imprisonment is seven years and the maximum is life imprisonment.
Police promised to examine this aspect during their investigation.
