KOLKATA: The West Bengal Commission for Women has submitted a report on the roughing up of girl students of a school in Howrah district by outsiders to Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, commission chairperson Malini Bhattacharya said on Tuesday.
The incident occurred on November 9 at the Biki Hakola Junior High School, which does not have government recognition. Afters rumours spread that it was going to be converted into a madrasa, a dispute arose over the land on which it stood, Ms. Bhattacharya said.
“The owner … had fenced the land, objecting to the proposal to convert the school into a madrasa. One of the teachers tried to …break the fencing,” District Superintendent of Police H.K. Kusumakar told The Hindu on Tuesday.
In retaliation, a mob attacked the school. It has been alleged that nearly 25 girls were attacked, manhandled, pushed and dragged by the crowd. Ten girls were taken to a primary health centre, Ms. Bhattacharya said.
The victims also alleged that one girl was dragged away and raped by some of the miscreants. Her statement was recorded and action initiated against the accused.
While the victims claimed that the police did not take adequate action against the miscreants, who were released on bail, Mr. Kusumakar said the decision to grant bail was taken by the court. “The people named in the FIR were released on bail on the basis of the injury report of the girl, as nothing was found. We have sent her clothes and a sample of the accused for forensic examination.”
Irrespective of the rape charge, which would be handled by the court, the commission had taken a very serious view of the attack and the manhandling of the girls, Ms. Bhattacharya said. “We have recommended in our report that the case be considered very seriously.”
The report, which was submitted last week, also pointed to the tardiness of the police in reaching the spot.
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