Minor sexually assaulted by cook of govt. residential school

Two staff members of the school have been arrested

A cook of a government residential school at Bangarpet in Kolar district has been accused of sexually assaulting a 10-year-old student.

Bangarpet police have filed a FIR against the cook Narayanappa (55) under provisions of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012. They also have arrested two staff members of the institution - hostel warden Chikkanna and assistant cook Radhamma - on charges of dereliction of duty, as they failed to lodge a case with the police.

Teams have been formed to nab Narayanappa, who is absconding, said B.S. Lokeshkumar, Superintendent of Police, Kolar Gold Fields.

M. Sowmya, deputy director of the Department for Women and Child Welfare, told The Hindu that the victim’s mother filed a complaint with the Bangarpet police on Monday evening, following which a case under POCSO was registered. “The department will give ₹10,000 for the victim’s treatment,” she said.

In her complaint, the mother of the victim, a class five student at the residential school, has accused Narayanappa of sexually abusing her daughter on August 16 inside the school premises. The victim sustained injuries on her head and right hand after the accused allegedly pushed her down the stairs when she raised alarm. Narayanappa allegedly threatened the victim of killing her if she reported the incident. Though the victim brought the incident to the notice of the hostel warden and assistant cook, they did not take any action. The duo reportedly told the mother that if the incident were to be reported, the victim’s future would be jeopardised.