Three of the victims are pregnant.
In a shocking incident, 12 minor girls belonging to a tribal community were raped by teachers and staff of a boarding school in Buldhana area of Maharashtra. The police have arrested 11 persons who are allegedly involved in the case. News reports say that three out of the 12 girls are pregnant.
The crime happened in Ninadhi Ashram boarding school, a network of schools in the state running for students from the most disadvantaged families. News 18 reported that seven out of the arrested are said to be teachers and Digambar Kharat, the headmaster of the school, was also involved in the rape.
“The incident occurred just before Diwali. We have sent women police officials to talk to the victims and take their statements. So far, 10 teachers have been accused, and seven have been arrested,” SD Baviskar, Superintendent of Police, Buldhana, was quoted as saying by DNA.
A report in the Hindu said that the arrested include sweeper Ittusingh Pawar, Kharat, superintendent-cum-rector Narayan Ambhore, assistant Swapnil Lakhe, cook Deepak Kokre, teachers Lalita Vajire, Mantha Kokre and Shewanta Raut, chairman of the school Gajanan Kokre, and trust members, Sanjay and Purushottam Kokre.
There are allegations that the trust chairman and board members tried to hide the crime by not informing the police.
The incident came to light when the villagers questioned the girls when they refused to participate in Diwali celebrations at Halkheda village in Muktainagar taluka in Jalgaon district.
“During Diwali, many girls were running and playing. But three girls (who are related to her) were sitting quietly in a corner. When we asked them why they were not playing, they said they had stomach pain and were feeling something heavy in their stomachs. When we took them to the doctor, he told us that these girls were pregnant,” said Bulesterni Sati Bhosale, Deputy Sarpanch of Halkheda village.
The girls have been admitted to a hospital in Akola district. The police have registered a case of rape against the accused on a complaint filed by the relatives of the girls. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to probe the case.