Infuriated parents block road, stage protest in front of MP Birla

Kolkata: Parents whose children study at MP Birla School on James long Sarani in Behala, staged a demonstration outside the school campus on Monday morning, demanding action against two non-teaching staff who had allegedly molested a three and half-year-old girl student.

The protestors also put up a road block on James Long Sarani to protest the incident after the mother of the nursery student alleged on last Saturday that her daughter had allegedly been molested by two non-teaching staff inside the school. A huge contingent of police reached the spot and brought the situation under control.

Following pressure from the guardians, the school authorities have suspended one of the accused. The family members of the students said suspension was not enough and the accused should be arrested immediately. They also demanded action against the other accused, who was involved in the incident.

Soumitra Roy, member of the West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights who wanted to visit the school was caught in the agitation. He said that a probe will be conducted after the family members of the victim lodge a complaint with the commission.

The girl's mother, a resident of Behala, alleged that the girl fell ill after returning from school on September 13. Her family members found that her school uniform had blood stains on it. They took her to Vidyasagar State General Hospital on the same day, where the doctors confirmed that she was sexually assaulted.

The victim also told her parents the name of the two accused who had tortured her. The family members of the victim alleged that neither the police nor the school authorities have taken any steps in this regard so far. The school authorities told the victim's family members that they have examined the CCTV footages of the school, but no such act was found in them.

The school authorities had issued a Press statement earlier, claiming that the allegation was baseless as they have examined the CCTV footages. The guardians of the students became infuriated on Monday morning after they found that the school authorities have put up a notice on the school gate saying that there was no proof that the girl had been molested.

They demanded that the school authorities must meet the family members of the students. Following the agitation, the school officials talked to the agitating guardians. The school authorities also told the victim's family members that one has been suspended in this connection.

The guardians, however, said that legal action must be taken against the accused. Steps should be taken against the other accused who had also been involved in the child's molestation.

Those who were continuing the agitation outside the school till Monday evening, alleged that police resorted to lathi-charge to disperse them when they tried to stop the faculty members of the school from going home. They also alleged that many of the guardians, including the father of the victim, were heckled by police personnel.

Meanwhile, school authorities have stated in a fresh press statement that a member of the school's service staff has been suspended on Monday following a discussion with the police and further investigation is pending.

"The MP Birla Foundation Higher Secondary School has a proud heritage of more than 28 years as a premier institution. Ensuring the safety and care of our children is enshrined in the core values of the institution as set by the founders. Although in all these years, never has any such incident been reported, we have taken the complaint with utmost seriousness," read the statement.