On 21 February, Thane police filed an FIR against Javed Khan for allegedly molesting schoolgirls during a school trip. The 27-year-old accused was apprehended following a complaint from students of CP Goenka School in Maharashtra’s Thane. The school administration is also conducting an inquiry into the involvement of teachers in the incident. Khan had accompanied the school trip as a provider of food items.

CP Goenka School is located in the Kapurbawdi area of Thane, Maharashtra. During a recent co-educational trip, Khan provided students with food items on the bus. Subsequently, some girls reported incidents of molestation by Khan during the food distribution. The matter surfaced after the girls informed their parents, leading to a police complaint and subsequent arrest of Khan.

The Kapurbawdi police station registered a case based on the complaints filed by the girls and their parents, resulting in Khan’s arrest. Parents of the affected students staged protests against the school administration, urging a thorough investigation. They demanded accountability from the school authorities.

One of the parents said that 8 to 10 second-grade students informed their parents of being molested during their school trip. The parents learned that there were two outsiders, one of them being Khan, on board the bus. The parents said they weren’t informed beforehand that outsiders would accompany the children. The parents were upset about being kept in the dark regarding the same.

“We don’t know what due diligence was done before selecting them. But one of them molested at least 8 to 10 children, not a placid touch but a proper molestation. Teachers accompanying the children said they didn’t know anything about it. Eight children wouldn’t lie,” said one of the parents. The school management denied the allegations and only accepted their ‘mistake’ in appointing a third party. The Principal and Management told the parents that such an incident could occur with anyone, even in their homes. Parents have registered an FIR against Khan and also the Management.

Another parent questioned the teachers present on the trip. “How did the incident take place with so many students? What were the teachers doing? The school has taught children about good and bad touches. When children come home and complain to their parents, we expect the school to take strict steps. However, the school failed to take strict action against the culprit. None of the school authorities were present at the police station. Parents were here till 2-3 yesterday,” an angry parent said.

The protesting parents had four main demands. The three teachers on the bus should be removed, the present Management should be dismissed, return the money collected for the field trip, and subsequently, parents should be informed who will accompany their kids, which food vendor the school has engaged, and other related things.

The school principal said the incident was regrettable, and they expressed regret regarding it. She added that they conduct adventure trips every year. The principal also said that the school was cooperating with the police and helping them with the investigations in whatever manner they could. She assured that action would be taken against the teachers as well.

Supporting the protesting parents, Avinash Jadhav from the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena and Sanjay Bhoir, former corporator of Thane from the Shiv Sena (Shinde Faction), joined the demonstrations. Parents have decided to withhold sending their children to school until the administration takes appropriate action while police investigate the matter.

(Featured Image Source: OpIndia)