dehradun

Updated: Oct 18, 2018 17:44 IST

Four classmates of a 16-year-old student allegedly raped her at a Dehradun boarding school last month (on August 14), police said on Monday.

The case came to light a month on Sunday after Dehradun’s senior superintendent of police (SSP) Nivedita Kukreti was tipped-off about the alleged rape and ordered an investigation.

The four, all aged 17, have been taken into custody for the alleged gang-rape.

Police sources said the school authorities tried to hush up the matter.

A police official on condition of anonymity said, “The victim returned to hostel and informed the incident to the hostel caretaker. Rather taking any action against the four boys, she rather told her to remain silent on the issue and then informed the accused administrative officer (AO).”

The school’s director, principal, administration officer, his wife and hostel caretaker were arrested for alleged destruction of evidence. A gang-rape and destruction of evidence case has been filed under the Indian Penal Code and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

“The incident happened on August 14… the girl was raped by the four boys studying in the same residential school. SSP, Dehradun, Nivedita Kukreti, got a tip-off about the incident and ordered us to investigate the matter… the charges were found to be true,” said station house officer Naresh Rathod.

Rathod said the investigation found that the arrested school officials were aware of the incident. Rathod said further details would be known after the police receive the girl’s medical examination report.

“She is from outside the state. The arrested boys will be presented before a juvenile court on Tuesday while the school officials will also be presented before a court on the same day.”