It was on 3rd February when Pinky (name changed) a 4-year-old girl attended school as usual. While leaving the school her mother came to pick her up. Her mother as a daily routine took her home. But after reaching home she happened to notice a change in the character of her daughter. While speaking to Santacruz Patrika, the child’s mother narrated the incident and said, “After I brought my daughter home she wanted to pass stools and went to the toilet. Then she asked me to wash her up. While washing, I noticed a sticky fluid and suspected something fishy.”Adding further her mother said, “Afterwards I immediately took her to the Vakola Police Station to register a complaint. At the Vakola Police station a lady constable checked up the girl and informed that the girl is fine and can be taken home. However I insisted with the police that I suspect that she has been raped and would like to have a medical checkup.” “The police accordingly informed me that I can go ahead and do a medical checkup. I then called up one of my acquaintances who advised me to take her to a doctor at Kurla. I then took her to Dr Anju Meswani who directed me to go to Sion Hospital.” stated her mother. The girl was then taken to Sion Hospital and after the report received from Sion Hospital the Vakola Police registered a FIR and thereafter arrested the peon Thelam Singh, class teacher Alison Miranda and ayah Shaila Mohite. A case u/s 376, 323, 506.34 was registered.
Further in the FIR lodged by her mother it states that the girl informed that on 3rd February, the date of incident her class teacher Miranda had slapped the girl; the ayah Shaila pinched her and the peon Thelam Singh threw a worm. Later, on 5th February while her mother took her to the toilet and noticed that she had difficulty while urinating the girl complained that Thelam removed her panty and placed a worm on her private part. But, while Sunita D’Silva of Santacruz Patrika spoke to the little girl who was hale and hearty replied to most of the questions posed by this author. She answered all the questions by only nodding her head but was interrupted by her mother and niece to keep saying ‘YES’. The only answer that came out from the girl was - who was the teacher…to which she replied MIRANDA. Which is quite likely that every student remembers their class teacher name?
To cross verify Santacruz Patrika spoke to the headmistress Ritu Vinod Bhugra, Head of Pre-Primary Section, Secretary Vijay Bhugra and Vinod Bhugra of the school management. The management stated that it was only last month that the school celebrated its golden jubilee in glory which did not go well with many. It is basically a conspiracy hatched by some mischief mongers to tarnish the image of the school. Rita Bhugra, the headmistress said, “At first, it was said that the rape took place inside the activity room, but later the cops said it occurred in the toilet on the third floor.:” Also, while speaking to this publication, the child’s niece also admitted that the incident took place in the activity room and Ritu Bhugra clarified that the activity room had been closed on that day.Further Ritu Bhugra while speaking to Santacruz Patrika said, “The girl’s mother had earlier too lodged a complaint against her daughter stating that on 6th December, 2010 of a similar incident. But unfortunately on that day our school was closed due to Dr.Ambedkar’s death anniversary. Now too, the allegations made against the three arrested are totally baseless. On 3rd February, the day of the incident Thelam Singh was busy in the other school distributing examination papers to std IX students and was with me the entire day. On that day he was not present in the pre-primary school building” “Also, her husband when he came to meet me the next day had apologized and claimed that his wife is mentally instable and might have made baseless allegations, “clarified Ritu.
However, when Santacruz Patrika went to clarify with her husband at their residence, they refused to speak to this publication and instructed the author to meet them in the evening at Suman Fernandes, a Human Rights activist office at Jamblipada. Further, in the evening when we went to Suman’s office her husband did not turn up. It was also astonishing to note the child’s mother stating that without the consent of Suman they were instructed not to interact with anyone.
Further, Vijay Bhugra of the management also clarified and said,” For the entire day of the incident Thelam was helping us in the other school building and came over to the pre-primary school building only late in the night. When questioned about Thelam Singh whereabouts in the pre-primary building when he is a peon in the other school building, Vijay Bhugra clarified, “Thelam is a peon of the Secondary section and Punikant Yadav is the watchman of the pre-primary school Building. But since Thelam has been associated with us since the last 35 years we have allowed him to sleep on the terrace of the building. So Thelam is only available in the building in the night. Hence the allegations are fabricated and baseless.” Adding further Bhugra said, “Thelam is a 56-year-old high diabetic, blood pressure and vital organ failure patient. So how can one expect such a person to commit such an offence?” Secondly, during the past 35-years of service with the school, Thelam has a clean record. He has on several occasions accompanied the teachers on their annual picnics and camps. We have never received any complaints against him, “clarified Bhugra.Ritu Bhugra further added, “When the girl’s mother along with some activists visited my office they attacked me and snatched my chain. And on the contrary lodged a false complains against me. The mother along with some activists and political parties are creating disturbances in the smooth running of the school.” “A few days ago Sada Parab of Shiv Sena gave us a dictate to close the school. But we will not succumb to any pressure and even if five students attend classes I will run the school,” emphasized the disgusted Ritu.
Several locals along with Shiv Sainiks, headed by Sada Parab, protested outside the school demanding the suspension of three staffers-Singh, class teacher Alison Miranda and helper Shaila Mohite. The management said they were an aided school and so the government would look into Singh's suspension. Also, several parents opposed the protestors saying the closure of the school would adversely affect the education of other children.Ritu Bhugra, the primary school chief said, "We don't know if Singh is guilty. We are more worried for our teacher Miranda and ayah Shaila as they are innocent." We are shocked that the police without applying their minds have booked them too in the rape case when duo are females and are no way connected to Singh. Sources said that taking advantage of this some miscreants are even sending messages to the management demanding a sum of Rs 10 lakhs to settle the issue.
Also Rajendra Govindsinha Pardesi clarified and said "Investigation is on and we cannot reveal any further details. We are awaiting Thelam Singh’s DNA Report.”However, there is a lot of contradiction to various statements on the incident. Firstly, the girl’s mother admitted that her daughter had narrated to her about the incident while on way home. Later she admitted that only after the girl went to pass stools her mother noticed something sticky and doubted foul play. In that case why was the incident not immediately reported to the Principal of the school instead of bringing the child home? Also, why was the child taken to Sion Hospital for a checkup after three days and not immediately? In the intervening three days any mischief could be planted. Further, there are contradictory statements on the place of the incident- once claimed in the toilet and on the other hand claimed to be in the activity room. Further, there are many statements which require a detailed enquiry to seek the truth and genuinely of the allegations. However, time will tell and truth will prevail.
Also Rajendra Govindsinha Pardesi clarified and said "Investigation is on and we cannot reveal any further details. We are awaiting Thelam Singh’s DNA Report.”However, there is a lot of contradiction to various statements on the incident. Firstly, the girl’s mother admitted that her daughter had narrated to her about the incident while on way home. Later she admitted that only after the girl went to pass stools her mother noticed something sticky and doubted foul play. In that case why was the incident not immediately reported to the Principal of the school instead of bringing the child home? Also, why was the child taken to Sion Hospital for a checkup after three days and not immediately? In the intervening three days any mischief could be planted. Further, there are contradictory statements on the place of the incident- once claimed in the toilet and on the other hand claimed to be in the activity room. Further, there are many statements which require a detailed enquiry to seek the truth and genuinely of the allegations. However, time will tell and truth will prevail.
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