2 Kavdas shelter victims now ‘raped’ at school
Two girls, who were rescued along with 17 other inmates from the Kavdas orphanage nearly four years ago, have now been allegedly sexually assaulted by a peon at a state-run school in Mankhurd. Mumbai Mirror had exposed the plight of 19 mentally challenged children -- who had been sexually assaulted for months at the Kavdas shelter -- in August 2010, following which the orphanage's owner Pundlik Gole was sentenced to life imprisonment.
Gole and five others were convicted for rape, sodomy, attempt to murder, torture, and culpable homicide, while the 19 inmates were shifted to the state-run home for mentally deficient in Mankhurd and admitted to a school for special children.
It has now emerged that two girls, both minors, were sexually assaulted by a peon at the school, Rajesh Tare, who has been arrested for rape. The incident came to light earlier this month when counselors from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), who are helping the inmates as part of their project titled ‘Chunauti’, found a Rs 50 note in the pocket of one of the girls.
Senior Inspector Vijay Kadam from Trombay Police Station said that Tare has been booked for rape Section 376 (2)(B) of Indian Penal Code, besides provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. “We are investigating whether the girls were repeatedly abused,” Kadam said.
The Mankhurd shelter officials said while they were shocked by the incident, the inmates will continue to study at the same school. “We had asked for police protection for the inmates. However, the kids will continue to study at the same school. We will send our caretakers to school to ensure the children’s safety,” Navnath Shinde said.
Gole and five others were convicted for rape, sodomy, attempt to murder, torture, and culpable homicide, while the 19 inmates were shifted to the state-run home for mentally deficient in Mankhurd and admitted to a school for special children.
It has now emerged that two girls, both minors, were sexually assaulted by a peon at the school, Rajesh Tare, who has been arrested for rape. The incident came to light earlier this month when counselors from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), who are helping the inmates as part of their project titled ‘Chunauti’, found a Rs 50 note in the pocket of one of the girls.
While the girl didn’t tell the counselors who gave her the money, they realised she could be in trouble when she returned from school extremely disturbed a few days ago. After hours of coaxing, the girl told the counselors that she had been sexually assaulted at school. “The counselors wanted to make sure that she was not talking about her experience at the Kavdas orphanage and spoke to her for hours. Everyone was shocked to know that the girl had indeed been sexually assaulted at the Mankhurd school,” a source said. Navnath Shinde, chief officer of the Mankhurd shelter, said that another girl came forward saying she had also been sexually assaulted at school and both identified Tare, who has been working at the school for the past 18 years.
Senior Inspector Vijay Kadam from Trombay Police Station said that Tare has been booked for rape Section 376 (2)(B) of Indian Penal Code, besides provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. “We are investigating whether the girls were repeatedly abused,” Kadam said.
The Mankhurd shelter officials said while they were shocked by the incident, the inmates will continue to study at the same school. “We had asked for police protection for the inmates. However, the kids will continue to study at the same school. We will send our caretakers to school to ensure the children’s safety,” Navnath Shinde said.
