20 days on, school opens, but victim leaves it

POLICE HAD ARRESTED ACCUSED TARUN KUMAR, WHO HAD ALLEGEDLY CAUGHT THE GIRL INSIDE SCHOOL TOILET AND TRIED TO RAPE HER ON SEPTEMBER 20

KARNAL: Twenty days after a nineyear-old girl student was molested in the toilet of the Millennium School in Panipat city, the school reopened on Tuesday, but the victim’s parents withdrew both their children from the school.

“We have decided not to send our children to this school. I have already changed the school of my daughter and son, who were studying in the school in Class 2 and Class 5, respectively,” victim’s father told HT.

“I never visited the school after the incident on September 20,” he said.

Meanwhile, school authorities assured the agitating parents that they will ensure security and safety of the children, but some parents did not send their children to the school after on Tuesday.

School director Rita Kaul held a meeting with the parents and sought to alleviate their apprehensions.

“We have installed about 100 CCTV cameras in the school premises. Boundary walls have also been raised, besides appointment of female attendants in the school vans and toilets,” said Kaul.

Regarding the ongoing probe into the incident, she said, “We have full faith in the law and are awaiting the SIT report.”

To a question, she said, “We have not appointed new the principal yet. The then principal Amita Kochhar was removed from her post, pending the inquiry into the molestation case.

The police had arrested accused Tarun Kumar, who had allegedly caught the girl inside the toilet and tried to rape her on September 20. The parents association has been demanding the arrest of Kochhar as well.

However, Madhur Kataria, a member of the parents’ association, said though parents have lost trust in the school, they are left with no option but to send their children to school as 20 days have already been lost.

He also regretted that the special investigation team (SIT), which was to asked submit its report by September 27, has so far failed come up with its report.

Panipat sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Vivek Chaudhary, who heads the SIT, said, “The investigations are on. We are still in the process of recording the statements of parents and school teachers. I cannot say when the report will be submitted.”