A six-year-old girl has allegedly been raped by two staff members at a prominent school in the southern Indian city of Bangalore, sparking protests from enraged parents across the city, NDTV reported. Although a case has been registered by police, no arrests have been made.
Hundreds of parents protested outside Vibgyor High School on Thursday, pulling down its gates, shouting slogans and demanding that the school's management take responsibility for their children's safety, according to BBC News. "My child studies in Class 1 here. I don't even know whether I can send her to school anymore," a parent shouted.
The alleged assault happened on July 2 when a minor schoolgirl reportedly left her classroom to use the bathroom and was attacked by two gym instructors during school hours. However, her parents discovered it only a few days later after she complained of stomach ache and was taken to a hospital.
Although the police said they were trying to identify the guilty suspects, three people have been confirmed to be detained. The role of the school is also being examined, a police officer said.
Anger has snowballed among parents as many schools in the city have declared that they can't be held responsible for the safety of students. They have asked parents to sign a form that the school's staff or teachers can't be held responsible for "damage to loss of property, sickness or injury from 'whatever source' legal entanglements, loss of life or money..."
"We collectively refuse to sign such a form," a parent said, adding, "My child spends 6-7 hours in school. I am at work. I can't be with her. The school has to protect her."
On Thursday, school chairman Rustom Kerawala addressed a meeting of the parents where he offered his "sincere apologies" and promised "full co-operation" with the police investigation. "We will install CCTVs and ensure background checks of staff," he told agitated parents, many of whom have full-time jobs in the bustling IT city and had never before worried about their children during school hours.
This is the latest in a series of sexual assault cases that have made headlines in India. Since the 2012 gang rape and murder of a student on a Delhi bus, scrutiny of sexual violence and rapes being reported to official authorities have grown.
New Prime Minister Narendra Modi has promised a zero tolerance approach on crimes against women, but violence and discrimination against women seem to remain deeply entrenched in society.
