Girl students made to strip for menstruation check in Thane school; POCSO case registered

Mumbai: In a shocking incident that came to light, girls mostly from Classes 5-10 were allegedly stripped and subjected to humiliating physical check in the Ratanbai Damani School at Shahapur in Thane district after blood stains were found in the washroom of the school.

On Thursday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who is also the state Home Minister, issued orders for strict action against the people involved in the incident.

The Thane police has registered a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act.

The incident took place on Tuesday.

Agitated parents had confronted the school authorities on Wednesday demanding immediate disciplinary and legal action against the principal and staff involved.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Milind Shinde, who heads the Murbad division of Thane Rural Police, confirmed that an FIR has been registered.

“As soon as we got the details, the police reached the spot,” he said.

“An FIR has been registered under the POCSO Act. There are a total of 8 accused, out of which 2 have been arrested. Efforts are underway to apprehend the remaining accused,” he said.

According to reports, some students were allegedly asked if they were menstruating, while a few were reportedly forced to remove their underwear for inspection.

The principal gathered female students in the school hall and showed and asked if they had menstruated. Later, a female attendant allegedly took some girls aside and examined them physically.

The charges include Sections 74 and 76 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, as well as Sections 11, 12, and 29 of the Protection of Children From Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. These sections deal with cruelty, abuse and sexual misconduct towards minors, and carry stringent legal consequences.

The issue also figured in the Maharashtra legislature.

Congress leader Nana Patole said that such an incident could take place in a progressive state like Maharashtra. Jitendra Awhad of NCP (SP) said the school principal involved is herself a woman. “The police have arrested the principal and another staffer over the allegation,” he said.

“The government has issued directives for stringent action against those responsible for the alleged stripping of girl students at a school to check if they were menstruating,” Disaster Management Minister Girish Mahajan said on Thursday.