Jodhpur: Class 11 girl ragged, forced to strip; decides to quit studies
Jaipur: In a horrific incident, a class 11 girl studying in Jodhpur-based private girls’ school was ragged by seniors. She was locked in the school bathroom during recess and forced to strip naked.
When the incident was reported to the school authorities, they tried to cover it up but following school’s inaction, the victim’s parents lodged a police complaint against five girls under Prevention of Children from Sexual Offence (POCSO) Act.
One of the accused has been suspended from the school and an inquiry committee has been constituted to look into the incident.
Horror-struck by the traumatic incident, the girl decided to quit studies and also tried to commit suicide.
"When she (victim) went to the washroom, she was ragged. She was forced to strip naked and they tried to sexually assault her. She was so appalled after the incident that she refused to go to school," said Pratap Nagar SHO, Manish Dev.
"The school authorities didn't take any action and tried to conceal the facts. The accused girls have been booked under POCSO Act," he added
In a letter to the state education minister, the girl said she had many dreams, which have been shattered after this ghastly incident, which was like a bad dream she cannot forget. “Everyone talks about Right to Education but it is linked with issue of safety. If school administration behave in such an insensitive manner, how can the girls feel safe? What sort of education and values will we get in a school bereft of any morality,” she questioned.
She further wrote that she is quitting studies as she won’t be able to face her schoolmates after the incident. “I felt ashamed of myself and tried to commit suicide. I won’t be able to step in that school in fact I think I won’t be able to go to any other school as well. If girls would be subjected to such insult and school administration would act in insensitive manner, It is better that I quit studies,” she wrote.
The incident, which took place a week ago, pushed the girl into depression and she repeatedly refused to go to school, that is when her parents came to know about the incident. They counselled her and with their support she decided to fight it out.
