Thane : Police have arrested the Principal and a female attendant of a private school in Shahapur, Thane, following shocking allegations that girl students from classes 5 to 10 were stripped and subjected to intimate examinations to check if they were menstruating. The incident has sparked outrage and protests from parents.
The incident allegedly occurred on Tuesday after bloodstains were discovered in a school toilet. According to a police complaint filed by a parent, school staff responded by gathering girls from classes 5 through 10 in the convention hall. Photographs of the bloodstains were reportedly projected, and the girls were asked if any were menstruating.
The complaint details a deeply disturbing sequence of events:
1. Division:The girls were divided into two groups.2. Thumb Impression: Those who stated they were menstruating were asked to provide a thumb impression to teachers.
3. Forced Examination: Girls who stated they were not menstruating were reportedly taken to the toilet individually. The female attendant then allegedly stripped them and examined their private parts to verify their menstrual status.
Upon learning of the incident, furious parents gathered at the school on Wednesday demanding immediate action against those responsible. “The situation turned tense for a while with the irate parents demanding action,” confirmed Additional Superintendent of Police (Thane rural) Rahul Zalte.
Police Action:
* The Shahapur police station registered a case on Wednesday against eight individuals: the Principal, four teachers, the attendant, and two school trustees.
* Based on the initial investigation, the Principal and the attendant were arrested on Wednesday night.
* The case has been registered under stringent sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including:
Section 74: Assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty.
Section 76: Assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe.
* Provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act have also been invoked due to the age of the victims and the nature of the alleged acts.
Police officials stated that a thorough investigation into the entire incident is ongoing. The arrests and charges highlight the gravity with which authorities are treating the allegations of severe violation of the girls’ dignity, privacy, and bodily autonomy.
