Kolkata: Child rights body seeks school principal’s arrest

Protesting parents on Sunday lodged a complaint against the sexual assault incident of a four-year-old student (Express Photo/ Partha Paul)

The West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights (WBCPCR) Monday sought the arrest of the principal of a Kolkata school in connection with a four-year-old girl’s alleged sexual assault by two teachers of the institution. The principal could have dealt with the matter in a sensible manner, WBCPCR Chairperson Ananya Chatterjee Chakraborti told PTI.

“On the contrary, she denied the incident first. Under the POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act, she is also an offender. The arrest of the principal is much needed. I have spoken to the Kolkata Police commissioner and told him that she must be arrested,” she said. Chakraborti also asserted that the commission would initiate legal action against the school management for shutting down the institution for an indefinite period.

“They (the school management) cannot jeopardise the future of the 7,000 students studying there. We will definitely take legal action against the management of the school for this,” said Chakraborti, who, along with other WBCPCR members, paid a visit to the Kolkata school this morning.

The WBCPCR has also sought the medical report of the child victim from the police. Two physical training teachers of the school were arrested last week for their alleged role in sexually abusing the nursery student during the school hours.