6-yr-old girl molested by teacher in school
Kolkata, Oct 9: A six-year-old student of a government-run school was allegedly molested by a teacher in its premises last month, following which the accused was arrested, police said Tuesday.
Education Minister Partha Chatterjee said the state government has sought a report from the school about the alleged molestation and the damage to school property by agitating guardians.
The police had a tough time controlling the victim's family members who tried to force their way into the school, located in the southern part of the city, Deputy Commissioner of Police (southeast division) Kalyan Mukherjee said.
According to the DCP, 10 police personnel, including two officers in-charge of Gariahat and Lake police stations were injured in brickbatting by the protesters.
The police had to use batons to disperse the agitators and three people were arrested for attacking the personnel of the force and destroying public properties, he said.
Asked about the lathicharge on the protesters, Mukherjee said the police took the step to save themselves and public properties.
The accused, he said, was arrested and booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 and a probe was initiated against him.
The school authorities were not available for comments.
Chatterjee, the state education minister, said the department will also find out the circumstances behind the incident in its own probe and strictest action will be taken against the teacher if the charges against him were proved.
He also condemned the damage of school property by a section of guardians and said steps would be taken if outsiders were found to be involved in the ransacking.
Ananya Chakraborti, chairperson of the West Bengal Child Rights Commission, said the police investigation would be closely monitored.
"We will follow-up the investigations conducted by the police. We will also see whether the police are carrying out proper investigation or not," Chakraborti said.
When contacted, chairman of the Sarva Shiksha Mission Kartik Manna said, the state government and the education minister would take a decision on the victim's parents' demand for employing only women teachers in the school.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
