The Hindu : Front Page : Gujarat orders magisterial probe into college girl’s rape

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Wednesday, Feb 06, 2008
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Gujarat orders magisterial probe into college girl’s rape

Manas Dasgupta

The act was allegedly committed by her own teachers

She claims she was gang raped 14 times in the last 6 months
Total bandh observed in Patan town; protest rallies held in many places

AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat government has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the alleged gang rape of a girl student of the government primary teachers’ training college in Patan in north Gujarat by her own teachers. The incident triggered a wave of protests and condemnation all over the State.

Teachers suspended

The six teachers, who were arrested after they were manhandled and severely beaten up by the parents of girl students and others, have been granted seven days’ remand by the local court. At the order of the State government, all the seven teachers named by the victim, a scheduled caste student, including one still absconding, have been suspended from the college.

The victim, who claimed that she was gang raped at least 14 times during the last six months in the college laboratory or computer room where she was summoned under threat of ruining her career by denying her internal marks, has also been sanctioned a compensation of Rs. 1 lakh by the State government for showing the courage of exposing the sex scandal in the institution.

Only 1 woman teacher

What shocked people the most was that the training college for girls had only male teachers, barring a woman who joined the institution just about a couple of months ago. Revenue Minister Anandiben Patel, who represented Patan in the Assembly and in the last State Cabinet held the education portfolio, visited the college and assured the aggrieved parents that as far as possible the government would appoint only woman teachers in the training colleges for girls.

On a call given by the parents, Patan town observed a total bandh in protest against the gang rape. Protest rallies were also held in the neighbouring Banaskantha district headquarter of Palanpur, Ahmedabad, Vadodara and many other centres in the State with protesters demanding exemplary punishment for the offending teachers.

Shameful act: Modi

Chief Minister Narendra Modi condemned the incident as the most “shameful act” and promised to take all necessary steps for the protection of the girl students, while Pradesh Congress president Bharat Solanki said it was a pointer towards the deteriorating law and order situation and had exposed the government’s claim of safety for women in the State.

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