2 chefs of residential girls’ school in Gujarat arrested for sexually harassing students

According to a complaint filed by the principal of the school, the two chefs were involved in sexually harassing and using obscene language to the girl students. On Friday a committee of Child Welfare Committee, female counselor, and women police officer heard over 100 girls studying in the school.

The residential school for girls has tribal students from different villages in Valsad district.

The issue came to light after the several girl students called up their parents and informed them about the matter. The parents contacted elected councillor of the locality who took the girls to the Valsad police station and office of the District Superintendent of Police Rajdeepsinh Zala. Police registered an offence into the incident Friday evening.

The councillor told The Sunday Express said, “While talking to the girl students, we have come to know that they had complained about the incident to the school principal around two months ago, but no steps were taken against the accused chefs.”

The principal and all seven chefs of the residential school have been transferred to other schools.

Valsad District Superintendent of Police Rajdeepsinh Zala said, “ We have arrested the accused and have seized their mobile phones which had been sent to FSL office for further test. We have take the statements of the students, teachers, and warden of the residential school. The incident had taken place at different time intervals. The investigation is going on.”

Police have registered an offence into the incident under IPC Section 354 (assault of criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and POCSO Act Section 12 (sexual harassment), and the Atrocities Act.