A special police team has launched an investigation into the case of a kindergarten student being sexually assaulted by senior students of a privately managed school near Nadapuram in the district.
The incident related to a few senior students sexually assaulting a four-and-half-year LKG student at their hostel adjacent to the school at Parakkadavu. They had allegedly taken the child to the hostel when she was on her way to the bathroom of the school. The culprits had also gagged her mouth to prevent the victim from screaming. The incident had taken place on October 30, the police said.
The Valayam police registered a case under section 376 (rape) of the Indian Penal Code and sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.
The police team led by Nadapuram Circle Inspector A.S. Suresh Kumar collected the statements of the girl and her mother on Tuesday. Investigators had also obtained a report from the doctors as the girl had undergone a medical check-up at the Government Medical College Hospital here.
Identification parade The police had planned to carry out an identification parade of the senior students on Tuesday. Over 80 students, including those studying in Classes XI and XII, are residents of the hostel. However, the identification had to be deferred for the time being, Mr. Sureshkumar said.
The incident came to light after the girl complained of nausea and pain the day after the incident. Subsequently, she had to be admitted to a private hospital at Thalassery in Kannur district. It was alleged that the school teachers failed to take appropriate action in spite of the parents informing them about the incident.
The school Principal approached the Valayam police to carry out a probe only after the mother of the child complained about the incident.
Meanwhile, hundreds of local people staged a sit-in in front of the school on Tuesday morning. Representatives of the school management held talks with the protesters for calling off the demonstration as they felt that the situation would result in violence. Another group reportedly assembled in front of the school to physically assault the protesters.
The teachers who arrived at the school in the morning had to return following the agitation. A posse of police led by Valayam sub-inspector K. Shambunadan camped at the school to avert any untoward incidents.
