Now Reading: Thane tribal hostel cook arrested for molesting 22 schoolgirls
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Thane tribal hostel cook arrested for molesting 22 schoolgirls
A 35-year-old cook at a government-run tribal residential school in Thane district of Maharashtra has been arrested for allegedly molesting 22 girl students, police said on Wednesday.
A 35-year-old cook at a government-run tribal residential school in Thane district of Maharashtra has been arrested for allegedly molesting 22 girl students, police said on Wednesday.
The accused, Ganpat Gavli, is accused of repeatedly subjecting girls at the Ashram school hostel to inappropriate physical contact and sexual harassment. Deputy superintendent of police (Shahapur) Vishal Nagargoje said a case was registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act.
An official said a thorough investigation is underway to determine the extent and duration of the alleged abuse, and that victims will receive counselling and support.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Ashram schools run by state governments house hundreds of tribal children, often far from their villages, making them vulnerable to abuse by staff who live on campus. The Maharashtra government's own data has shown dozens of similar Pocso cases at such hostels in the past five years. The Thane police have filed charges under the Pocso Act, which mandates trial within two months of a minor's testimony. The real measure of accountability will be whether the school's management or warden face action for failing to report or prevent the abuse. The accused's bail hearing is expected in the coming days, while the special Pocso court will determine the timeline for recording the victims' statements.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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