TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: In a dramatic twist to the molestation case, reported at Ribandar five days after a police complaint was lodged, the reluctant Panjim police Thursday night arrested a school teacher for the offence after intense pressure from an NGO and Women’s Commission.
Accused Kanhaiya Naik was arrested under sections 354 (molestation) and 341 (wrongful restraint) of IPC and Goa Children’s Act 2003.
The molestation case was reported at Panjim police, wherein the 14-year-old school student was allegedly sexually abused by the teacher at his Ribandar apartment on December 31, 2011.
The victim, a school student, would go for coaching classes at his flat after her poor academic performance worried her parents.
The matter came to light when the girl after a good three hour questioning by her mother about the ‘marks’ on her body disclosed her teacher’s shameful act.
The police had ‘agreed’ not registering the case after the minor victim’s father withdrew the complaint at the last minute claiming they had ‘compromised the matter with the school teacher’.
Despite NGO CRG assisting the victim, the police closed the case instead of pursuing it further, it being a cognizable offence.
The policemen not only failed to carry out preliminary inquiry and send the girl for medical examination, they also refused to register a suo moto case.
GSCW Chairperson Ezilda Sapeco visited the police station late Thursday evening only to find that the police officials were reluctant to register the case. The case was finally registered and both – victim and the accused – were sent for medical examination.
Sapeco has sought an explanation from the police about the delay in taking action and reasons why the girl was not sent for medical examination on time.
