agencies
Raipur, August 7: In a shameful development, villagers in a little-known village in the Maoist-dominated Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh have accused CRPF personnel of molesting a group of schoolgirls in a government hostel during anti-Naxalite combing operations in the region. It is alleged that the incident occurred during a cultural programme at the girls’ hostel.
The girls’ hostel is located at Palnaar, about 25km from the district headquarters of Dantewada.
When the girls complained about the misconduct by the CRPF troopers, the warden took up the issue with the local police. Acting on the complaint, the Chhattisgarh Police have initiated an investigation into the matter and filed an FIR against unknown CRPF personnel.
When asked about the incident and the subsequent police investigation, additional superintendent of police (ASP), Dantewada, Abhishek Pallav, said, “We have received a complaint from the warden of the hostel against some unidentified men in uniform and have started a probe.”
The ASP further said, “An FIR under Section 354 IPC has been registered at Kuakonda police station and more sections can be added based on Section 164 of the CrPC and statements of victims.”
Describing the incident as a “serious matter,” Pallav said the police will undertake a thorough investigation into the matter to unearth the truth. “We will record the statement of the girls, as it will help us to identify the accused,” he said.
News regarding the alleged molestation of the schoolgirls became viral on the Internet following a Facebook post by a local activist, Himanshu Kumar, Sunday.
According to Himangshu, a private news channel had organised a cultural programme on Raksha bandhan at the girls’ hostel on July 31 and a few CRPF personnel were invited to the event so that the girls could tie rakhi on the occasion to express their support and gratitude to the men in uniform. After the programme was over, a few girls visited the toilet, where they were allegedly molested by the CRPF troopers, Himangshu added.
Himangshu further said, “The personnel molested the girls on the pretext of frisking. Later, the warden complained about the act to senior administrative officers, but nothing was done.” He went on to add that the CRPF camp in Palanaar is located just 100 meters from the hostel and various other atrocities of the CRPF officers were also reported in recent past.
For some time now, the Chhattisgarh government has been endeavouring to wean away the younger generation from the influence of the Maoists by opening schools in remote areas and getting the children to stay in hostels. However, it is apprehended that the alleged molestation can snowball into a crisis situation in the Bastar region where security forces have often been accused of human rights abuse and rape.