Molester finally convicted in 2014 case on Women's Day eve

It was justice rendered on the eve of International Women's Day as a special court in Darjeeling convicted a 34-year-old man for molesting a Class 7 student.

"A Special Court in Darjeeling convicted Bharat Chettri alias Badal to 5 years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 10,000, which if failed to pay, he

will have to undergo imprisonment of another 6 months" stated Pranay Rai, Public Prosecutor, Darjeeling.

According to the FIR lodged by the aunt of the victim, Chettri had called the victim to the A-One Educational Welfare Society premises (where she goes for coaching classes) and molested her. The victim is an orphan and used to reside with her aunty.

According to the FIR on November 15 2014, the accused had called up the aunt of the victim on her cell phone around noon asking her to send her niece for coaching classes immediately. Accordingly the aunt had sent her niece for tuition. The victim returned home at around 6pm. Seeing her aunt, the victim broke down stating that Chettri had beaten her up and even molested her.

Confiding in her aunt, the victim alleged that after sending other students out to play, the accused had locked the door of the room and had molested her. When she started crying, he let her out. The victim ran out and had narrated the horrific incident to her close friend. The close friend too stated that she had also been molested by "Bharat Sir" who had also forced her to view porn videos in his computer.

Based on the FIR, the police had arrested Chettri on November 18 2014. He was charged under Sections 8 and 12 of the Protection of Child from Sexual Offences Act and other sections of the Indian Penal Code.

Following the incident, students, members of the civil society and NGOs had taken out rallies demanding justice. NGO Network, a conglomeration of NGOs had called upon the government to ensure closer monitoring of the functioning of NGOs, especially those working with children.

They demanded periodic inspection of their premises to see if it was a safe environment for children as prescribed under the Child Protection Policies of the Government of India.

"It is on a great day that justice has been delivered" stated Nirnay John Chettri, a child rights activist.