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PANJIM: A special 15-member police squad has been formed to investigate the sexual assault on the Vasco student, aged seven, and a sketch of the suspected middle-aged male has been released, police said Tuesday.
Speaking at a press briefing at the Goa Police headquarters, Deputy Inspector General of Police, O P Mishra said the victim was sexually assaulted according to the medical report submitted to the DGP and then to the crime branch, which is investigating the case.
“Medical examination has established sexual assault,” he said refusing to give any details of the investigation, terming it a ‘very sensitive case’.
According to the police, sections of The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act 2012 in addition to IPC and Goa Children’s Act 2003 have been invoked against the unknown male.
The DIG told media that the department had prepared a sketch of the suspect, probably a middle-aged man. He was reportedly seen wearing blue jeans and a long sleeves blue, white and black striped shirt and loitering in the school compound.
The senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer said the 15 member team headed by Superintendent of Police (Crime Branch) O P Kurtarkar and comprising police inspectors Sunita Sawant and Ezilda D’Souza, will be based at Mormugao till the investigation is complete.
Reliable sources have said that state police have alerted their counterparts in the neighbouring states and forwarded the sketch to them in a bid to trace the culprit. Security around the state borders has also been intensified after the incident to ensure the culprit does not escape, police claim.
Vasco has been put under strict police vigil, Mishra said, adding that there was no law and order problem there.
Meanwhile, the headmistress of the school, who has been detained, according to police, has been booked for alleged negligence of duty under sections 336 (endangering life or personal safety of others), 337 (causing hurt by endangering life or personal safety of others) and 34 (common intention) of IPC and section 8 (1) (10) of the Goa Children’s Act.
Incidentally, the school already had a CISF man posted at one of the two gates of the school complex.
