Principal, 4 suspended in Mangolpuri rape case

North Delhi Municipal Corporation Commissioner P K Gupta on Saturday suspended five staff of a school at outer Delhi’s Mangolpuri over the rape of a seven-year-old student.

Principal of Mangolpuri block L’s Nigam Pratibha Vidyalaya, Neelam Karwal, was suspended along with school inspector Balraj Singh, class teacher Monica Kohli, school attendant Sushila and security guard Kailash with immediate effect pending an inquiry.

Gupta also constituted a five-member inquiry committee which will submit its report within three days. It includes Additional Commissioner (Engineering) Pawan Sharma, Director (Education) Nedunchezhiyan, Deputy Commissioner R S Meena, Director (Vigilance) Deepak Purohit and Chief Medical Officer Dr Amita Saxena. 

The committee has also been asked to suggest measures for strengthening security and safety of students studying in North Delhi Municipal primary schools.

Meanwhile, Delhi Police questioned about 200 people in connection with the rape. The victim, a class 2 student, was sexually assaulted after being taken from her classroom during lunch hour by an unidentified man on Thursday.

“We have taken the statement of the minor and a sketch has also been prepared and circulated in the area to trace the accused. The victim has not identified anyone from the school as of now,” a police officer said.

Five persons, including a teacher, watchman and two peons, detained for questioning, have not been released yet. The incident came to light after the victim’s parents reported the matter to a local police station on Friday morning. The girl was immediately taken to Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital, where a medical examination confirmed sexual assault.

Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde on Saturday said the government is taking incidents of rape very seriously, and added that he has given instructions to police to act firmly.

Chief minister Sheila Dikshit said Delhi Police and NDMC have taken up the probe in right earnest. “Kiran Walia, state health and family welfare minister, is having talks with the MCD mayor, and the chief secretary has also told the MCD commissioner and deputy commissioner of police (outer) to do the needful,” she said.

Centre for Social Research director Ranjana Kumari demanded a proper investigation and blamed school authorities for the incident. “I do not think that we can blame police, because the school authority is equally responsible,” Kumari said. A case under IPC and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act has been registered with Mangolpuri police station.