Now Reading: Ex-serviceman running Nagpur school held for sexually abusing minors
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Ex-serviceman running Nagpur school held for sexually abusing minors
Nagpur Rural Police have arrested Harishchandra Rane, 40, a former serviceman who runs the Commando Army Police Career Academy and Sainik School in Saoner taluka, for allegedly sexually assaulting minor students. A complaint filed by a girl student on Sunday said girls were subjected to inappropriate touch, obscene acts and coerced sexual relations under the guise of military training.
Investigating officer Parag Pote said girls reported the harassment to teachers two months ago but no action was taken. Four girls have come forward against Rane. The residential academy once housed around 70 students, including 14 girls, 11 girl students have since left, leaving only three enrolled.
Police registered a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Rane is in magisterial custody for further interrogation.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The case highlights a recurring vulnerability: residential coaching centres in rural Maharashtra often operate with minimal oversight, leaving children dependent on a single authority figure. The POCSO Act mandates that schools appoint a designated complaint officer, yet the alleged two-month delay in action suggests this safeguard failed. Nagpur Rural Police's use of both POCSO and BNS sections allows for non-bailable charges and potential life sentences if convicted. The departure of 11 of 14 girl students signals a broader trust deficit in such academies. Next hearing for bail will set the tone for how seriously courts treat institutional sexual abuse claims against ex-defence personnel.
Source: hindustantimes.com
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