Maharashtra: 12 minor tribal girls raped by teachers; 3 pregnant

Mumbai: 12 minor girls from a tribal school were allegedly raped by their teachers and headmaster in Buldhana district of Maharashtra.

According to a report in dna, aged between 12 and 14, these girls were studying in a boarding school, Ninadhi Ashran School in Hivarkheda of Buldhana, about 450 kilometres from Mumbai.

Three of the girls are now pregnant, said the report.

The police have arrested 11 teachers so far for raping the minor girls.

SD Baviskar, Superintendent of Police, Buldhana was quoted as saying, “The incident occurred just before Diwali. We have sent women police officials to talk to the victims and take their statements. So far, 10 teachers have been accused, and seven have been arrested."

The brutal act came to light only when three of the 12 girls returned home to Halkheda village in Muktainagar taluka in Jalgaon district.

The Deputy Sarpanch of the village said that the girls who returned home had complained of stomach pain and ‘feeling something heavy in the stomach’. When they were taken to the doctor, it was revealed that they were pregnant.

All the 12 girls have currently been sent to a hospital in Akola district, said the report.

The Deputy Sarpanch said that the relatives have lodged a complaint in the Khamgaon police station in Buldhana district. She demanded capital punishment for the culprits.

Local police have called all staffers of the school for an inquiry. Meanwhile, former Maharashtra minister and Muktainagar MLA Eknath Khadse said that everything possible was being done to help the girls and their families.

But Chitra Wagh, Women's Wing President of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), has called for the resignation of Maharashtra Women and Child Minister Pankaja Munde and Tribal Minister Vishnu Savara over the incident.