Students raped, flare-up in village

Both the victims’ parents are poor and earn their living by ploughing fields.

More than 1,000 children from several surrounding villages study at the school. One of the accused, Ram Kumar who taught Maths, was from Udaipur. The other teacher, Rameshwar Dhanoda who taught physical instruction, was from Dhanoda.

Such is the fear in the village that when the Express team reached, a dozen villagers threatened them against entering, saying they would not allow the teachers’ goons to get near the families. Only when identity cards were flashed did the villagers relent. Two days ago, villagers locked up the school and agreed to reopen only yesterday after district authorities assured action.

The villagers have threatened severe action if the government does not punish the teachers. ‘‘We can go to the extent of even killing anybody if the government or police do not listen to us,’’ villagers said. ‘‘The teachers have spread terror with their goons and henchmen in the village and the entire village is terrified with their activities.’’ The village’s Yuva Mandal president Sushil Kumar, said: ‘‘They are very powerful, earlier too they have been sending their goons to threaten us. Now we fear that they will try to eliminate the girls and their families,’’ says village’s Yuva Mandal president Sushil Kumar.

At midnight, villagers sit up with weapons, having converted their houses to bunkers. Villagers said the victims and their families were in the panchayat’s custody and nobody could reach them.

The teachers were booked on charges of molestation today. Teachers of the school are also being questioned.

SDM Mohammad Shahin has been visiting the village and school for the past couple of days and assured villagers that appropriate action would be taken. Both teachers are absconding.