Numerous cases of child sexual abuse emerge in Bhopal

New Delhi:

Within four days, several cases of child sexual abuse have come to light in the capital of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, raising concerns about the safety of children in educational institutions.

A 16-year-old boy was allegedly sexually harassed by his chemistry teacher at a private school in Bhopal. The teacher allegedly threatened the student with bad marks and recorded inappropriate videos. The situation came to light when the boy's class teacher spoke to him after he scored poor marks in an exam. The school principal was then informed, which led to police involvement. A complaint was filed against the teacher, who was arrested and produced in court where he was remanded in judicial custody.

In another incident on Saturday, a 5-year-old girl reported being sexually abused by the driver of her school bus. The child came home crying and informed her mother about the incident. However, when questioned at the police station, she did not mention the details, prompting the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) to schedule a consultation with her today to seek more information. So far, the police have detained the driver for questioning but no complaint has been filed against him. However, Bhopal Police Commissioner Harinarayanachari Mishra has confirmed that the case is being taken seriously.

Three days ago, a three-year-old girl at another private school was sexually abused by her computer science teacher. Her mother noticed suspicious scratches on her body, which she initially thought were unintentional. After questioning the child, who referred to the perpetrator as “uncle,” the mother reported the incident to the authorities. After a medical examination and subsequent identification, the accused teacher Qasim confessed to the crime and was arrested.

These incidents have sparked public outrage and led to demands for immediate action to ensure child safety in schools. Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav condemned these acts and ordered an immediate investigation into all cases. He also announced plans to set up a special court to speed up the trial of perpetrators.

In another case in Tikamgarh, a 7-year-old girl was allegedly sexually abused by Ashish Tiwari, a local who was recently appointed as a Member of Parliament by Union Minister Virendra Khatik. Following a complaint by the girl's mother, the police registered a case under the POCSO Act and the Union Minister sacked the accused as his representative. However, Tiwari is currently on the run. The authorities are under pressure to bring in stricter regulations and bring the abusers of minors to book.