5-year-old girl complains of 'bad touch' in school; teen arrested
The Madhya Pradesh police detained a teenage boy on Sunday for allegedly sexually assaulting a five-year-old kindergarten girl student on the premises of a school in Ratlam city. The incident came to light after the girl told her mother about "bad touch" in school. The accused—a 10th-grade student from another branch of the same school and son of a watchman—has been taken into custody following an investigation initiated by Additional Superintendent of Police Rakesh Khakha after receiving the mother's complaint.
Charges filed under new criminal laws and POCSO Act
The accused teenager has been charged under sections 65 (2) and 75 of the Bharatiya Nayay Sanhita (BNS), new criminal laws, as well as the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POSCO) Act. Section 65(2) pertains to rape committed on a woman under 12 years of age, while section 75 addresses physical contact and advances involving unwelcome and explicit sexual overtures. The charges were filed following the complaint lodged by the victim's mother.
Incident sparks political outrage in Madhya Pradesh
The incident has ignited political controversy, with Jitu Patwari, the Congress Chief of Madhya Pradesh, criticizing the Bharatiya Janata Party government. He said on X, "The news of a tragic incident with a 5-year-old girl in Ratlam has deeply disturbed me. Such incidents happen with our daughters every day in MP." "Daughters will not get justice by just asking for help from the government on social media. Now the Congress party will fight this battle on the streets," he added.
School's security measures questioned
The alleged assault took place in the watchman's room on the third floor of a private school in Ratlam city. The school, which has CCTV cameras installed, only monitors the ground floor, leaving upper floors like where the incident occurred unmonitored. This detail was confirmed by a police officer who also mentioned that the girl reported the incident to her mother on September 27.
