Samudra Gupta Kashyap
Guwahati November 19
[dropcap]A [/dropcap]police officer of the rank of an Sub-Inspector was arrested following allegations of molesting a school girl in Roing, headquarter town of Lower Dibang Valley district in Arunachal Pradesh. He has been booked under Section 12 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.
Stating this Lower Dibang Valley district SP Rajneesh Gupta said while the police officer allegedly molested the Class X girl who was on her way to school Tuesday morning, he has been arrested and also placed under suspension.
“A magistrate has already recorded the victim’s statement, while necessary medical examinations have been also conducted immediately. We are submitting the chargesheet in connection with the case as early as possible in order to ensure speedy justice,” the SP told The Indian Express over the telephone from Roing on Wednesday.Local sources said the girl was on her way to attend a private tuition when the police officer allegedly lured her into his official quarter on the pretext of asking for help in operating his new mobile phone. The girl, who regularly passes by the officer’s quarter did not doubt his intentions, but was molested once she entered his house, sources said. The girl, who managed to get out of the house, immediately informed the local unit of All Idu Mishmi Students’ Union (AIMSU), whose president Lokha Elapra in turn lodged an FIR in the Roing police station.
Ironically, the police officer arrested for the alleged sexual abuse of the girl was supposed to attend an Art of Living camp that began in Roing Tuesday. Organised by the district administration, the camp is being atttended by teachers, high school students, parents, other citizens as well as police officers. The camp is discussing issues related to drug abuse, alcoholism, sexual abuse of children, and other social malaises.
Meanwhile, Gumri Ringu, who has just relinquished her office as chairperson of the Arunachal Pradesh State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (APSCPCR), while condemning the incident, has demanded exemplary punishment to the police officer involved in the incident. “There should be zero tolerance in this case where a police officer who is expected to protect children and other citizens had committed such a heinous crime,” Ringu, also president of Arunachal Pradesh Women Welfare Society, said.
Ringu said number of such incidents of sexual abuse of children has been increasing in the hill state. “Many such cases have gone unreported in recent times. Cases of sexual abuse and exploitation of children, especially girls, are rampant in schools run by both Christian and Hindu missionaries,” Ringu alleged.
It was only last month that the Lower Dibang Valley district administration had constituted a district-level committee headed by the SP to look into cases related to sexual abuse and exploitation of children, especially in schools. Principals and headmasters were also asked to verify character-related antecedents of all employees including teachers, and also conduct awareness programmes involving upper class students with the help of NGOs and counselors.
Courtesy: The Indian Express
