Parents of students of GD Birla school, one of the prominent girls’ schools in Kolkata, marched to the school on Monday, demanding that the school be opened immediately.
On Sunday night, acting on the advice of West Bengal Child Protection Commission, Kolkata police registered a non-bailable case against principal of the school, Sharmila Nath, who had defended two physical education teachers—Abhishek Ray and Md Mufazzudin—accused of sexually assaulting a 4-year-old student.
“We have done a preliminary investigation and found the role of principal absolutely undesirable. We have asked the Kolkata police commissioner to begin a case against the principal,” said Anayna Chakraborty, chairperson of the commission.
Chakraborty rushed to the school after authorities declared that the school would be closed indefinitely. Demanding that the school should be opened, she said, “The school cannot be closed because of the incident. It’s a violation of right to education. We will summon the school authorities in our office.”
BJP MP Roopa Ganguly faced the ire of agitating parents when she went to the school on Monday morning.
“Go back. We don’t want our issue be politicised. We ask all political parties to stay away from our movement,” the angry parents told the MP.
The actress-turned-politician sat at the gate of the school and tried to reason with the parents, saying she did not visit the place in her capacity as a politician but as a resident who grew up in Tollygung area where the school is located.
Kolkata police registered a case against principal Nath under sections of fraud, criminal conspiracy, destruction of evidence and POSCO Act.
On November 28, the victim, a nursery student of the school, was taken to the school toilet where she was sexually assaulted by the teachers.
Education Minister Partha Chatterjee, who also ordered an inquiry into the incident, said there should not have been male teachers at a school for girls.
“I fail to understand why in a girls’ school male teacher have been recruited? And that too a physical training teacher. I am totally opposed to that. Also how can a male teacher take a girl to the toilet? Why was there not separate toilet for male teachers in the school?” asked the education minister.
Chatterjee’s daughter is also an alumnus of the GD Birla school.
Sources have confirmed that Kolkata police commissioner have asked the investigating officers to summon the principal to the police headquarters in Kolkata for interrogation.
