G D Birla Centre for Education sexual assault : Meeting goes inconclusive

The tripartite meeting between the management of G D Birla Centre for Education, guardian’s forum and the police on the ongoing impasse in the school here in the metropolis remained inconclusive on Tuesday.

The school continued to remain shut for an indefinite period and the authorities have said that the decision to reopen the school and restart academic activities will only happen after conducive atmosphere prevails.

Members of the guardian’s forum said after today’s meeting that they have stuck to their demands that the junior section principal is immediately removed from services and arrested.

A four-year-old girl student of the school was allegedly sexually assaulted by two teachers of the physical education department in the junior section on last Thursday.
Both teachers have been arrested and charged under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

The principal of the school, Sharmila Nath, was summoned by officers of the detective department at the Kolkata Police headquarters at Lalbazar and was interrogated for over six hours.

The girl’s parents were also called for recording their statement by the detectives. Police officers told DHNS that the girl’s medico-legal test will be conducted tomorrow at the state-run SSKM Hospital and her statement in front of a magistrate will be recorded on Thursday.

“The school authorities tried to divert our attention from the main issue and were saying what all measures they have taken to ensure safety and security of students since the allegation of sexual assault surfaced. But, we have told them that the guardians have lost faith in the present principal.

The management has to remove this principal, who has not only been insensitive about the whole incident, but also tried to dilute the issue and shield the guilty. And the police needs to arrest her. The management has sought for some time and we have been asked to come for a second meeting tomorrow at 5 PM. Though we want the school to open, we will wait till tomorrow,” said a member of the forum.

The police team, which attended today’s meeting, was led by the Kolkata Police Deputy Commissioner (South Suburban Division).

In the mean time, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed before the Division Bench of acting Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court Justice Jyotirmoy Bhattacharya, demanding that a Special Investigating Team led by a lady Joint Commissioner be constituted to probe the G D Birla school sexual assault case, a committee be constituted with two eminent members from the state administration and education world to prepare concrete guidelines to ensure safety and security in all educational institution - both private and state-owned, installation of CCTV cameras be made mandatory at all schools and presence of lady attendants be made must outside lavatories used by girl students in schools.

The PIL is likely to come up for hearing tomorrow.