Principal among three held in Dhuri rape case

Sangrur

Dhuri town remained tense on Monday also over the “rape” of a four-year-old girl at a private school here. The locals along with various organisations staged a protest in front of the Dhuri city police station demanding the inclusion of the name of the school management in the FIR that was registered against Kamal Kumar, conductor-cum-helper of the school, on Sunday. The protesters have locked the school building.

However, the protest was lifted in the evening after SSP Sandeep Garg told them they had added the names of two members of the school management as well as the principal in the FIR and arrested them.

“The names of the principal and two members of the management have been added in the FIR. We have arrested them for hiding information about the crime. Further investigations are on,” the SSP said.

The Punjab State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has written to Sangrur SSP and sought a detailed report of the incident.

“We have met some locals, who have alleged that earlier some children were mercilessly beaten up in the school. We demand death sentence for the conductor and the case must be assigned to a fast-track court,” said Charnjit Kaur, state vice-president, Istri Jagriti Manch.

Meanwhile, security was tightened around the court where the accused was produced. The police have procured his four-day remand. Advocates have also refused to fight for him.

“We request the administration to help us in shifting our children to other schools. Parents of hundreds of students are trying to get their children admitted to other schools after this incident,” said a shopkeeper.

Badal guns for CM

Muktsar: Former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Monday said CM Capt Amarinder Singh should resign over the Dhrui rape incident. “There is a complete lawlessness in the state. The Congress is facing existential crisis,” said Badal, on the sidelines of his thanksgiving tour in Lambi. TNS

Capt tweets

Directed Sangrur Police @PunjabPoliceInd to complete investigations against 4 arrested, including school principal, in Dhuri minor rape case within a week. Also asked Director Prosecution to ensure speedy trial & punishment for culprits of the heinous rape of 4-yr-old.