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PANJIM: St Andre MLA Vishnu Wagh, who heads a high-level committee to investigate into the sexual assault on a school student alleged by a city-based teacher, on Monday, hinted that the culprit in the Vasco sexual assault case could be an acquaintance of the headmistress and possibly of the school security guard.
Wagh, who along with his committee members visited Vasco on January 15, a day after the incident, said that he had hinted to local police about the vital role of the school headmistress in the entire incident.
“Despite very high security how is it possible for an unknown person to enter the school premises? I guess, the accused is known to the headmistress and the security guard there,” he added.
Stressing on delay in conducting the victim’s medical examination and informing the police, the MLA alleged, “The school authorities, probably were interested in hiding the incident, further giving a chance for the accused to run away”.
The hushed manner in which the police are handling the case has fuelled speculations that there maybe cover-ups and suppression of evidence and especially after police sources informed that a close relative of one of the school officials ~ down from the neighbouring state ~ was interrogated by the police on January 18 for nearly three hours in connection with the incident.
Meanwhile, there were rumours that the accused had been arrested, a claim which was flatly denied by the police.
“There is nothing in the rumour floating around,” Deputy Inspector General of Police, O P Mishra told reporters.
Wagh pointed out that the toilet, where the seven-year-old girl was sexually assaulted, was at a distance of 20 feet from the headmistress’ cabin and the accused would have passed by her cabin along with the girl, to enter the toilet.
“Once the culprit is arrested it will be known, whether the act of the headmistress, who was actively involved in destroying the evidence, was intentional or unintentional,” Wagh said.
