40 girls in hospital after attack by youths

Agroup of young men assaulted students at a government middle school for girls in Bihar after the girls took exception to their lewd remarks.

At least 40 girls were severely wounded in the attack and have since been admitted to a local hospital.

The incident took place at the Kasturba Gandhi Girls’ residential school, Daprakha, in Supaul district on Saturday evening.

The victims said they had been playing within the school’s premises when the youths made some deragatory remarks directed at them.

Bamboo sticks

The youths fled the scene after being confronted by the incensed girls, only to return armed with bamboo sticks.

“Soon the attackers started beating everyone, chasing us from one corner of the ground to another,” one of the girls told the media from her hospital bed.

“We prayed for mercy but they didn’t take notice of our requests.”

Witnesses said the assailants ran amok in the school compound for about 15-20 minutes, during which they rained blows on every one they came across.

“The attackers thrashed the girls because they had protested against the lewd comments,” hostel warden Reema Raj said, adding that the goons had not spared the school’s youngest wards.