Himachal issues guidelines for students’ safety

SHIMLA : Days after the rape and murder of a Class-10 student in Kotkhai tehsil of Shimla district triggered widespread protest, the Himachal Pradesh government has issued fresh guidelines to schools regarding students’ safety.

On Thursday, the education department decided to install more CCTV cameras in schools and also advised students to adopt precautionary measures to safeguard themselves from criminal and anti-social elements.

In its advisory, the department has asked students to use public transport and avoid taking lift from strangers.

The victim in the Kotkhai rape and murder case had reportedly taken lift from a private vehicle, following which she was abducted, sexually assaulted and later murdered.

Speaking to HT, director higher education Dr BL Binta, said, “Directions have been issued to all schools to dissuade students from taking lift from strangers. In absence of public transport, schoolchildren usually take lift from private vehicles to reach school.” Besides this, students have been advised to travel in groups and not move alone.

The department has also asked schools to increase the frequency of parent-teacher meetings that are presently held quarterly. “Our focus is to strengthen teacher-student relationship at schools,” Dr Binta said.

CBI VISITS KOTKHAI VICTIM’S SCHOOL

A team of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) visited the Senior Secondary School, Mahasu, on Thursday to seek additional information about the Kotkhai rape and murder victim. She was a student of Class-10 in the said school. The team also visited Shirguli and met the victim’s parents to inquire about her.

The school is located 1.5 kilometers from Hilaila village from where the victim’s body was found.

The girl had joined the school on May 16 this year. School records showed that she and her brother had regularly attended school. A team of the education department also visited the school.

FOUR ACCUSED SENT TO JUDICIAL CUSTODY

Meanwhile, a local court in Theogh sent four accused in the Kotkhai rape and murder case to judicial custody on Thursday.

SCHOOLS ASKED TO INSTALL CCTV CAMERAS, STUDENTS ADVISED TO MOVE IN GROUPS, USE PUBLIC TRANSPORT, AVOID TAKING LIFT