Incident reported from Rohtak

Four boys, aged between 10-12, studying in a gurukul in Haryana’s Rohtak have accused their seniors and staff of sexually and physically assaulting them over a prolonged period of time.

A case has been lodged at Sadar police station based on the complaint of two of the victims under sections of the IPC and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.

Superintendent of Police (Rohtak) Jashandeep Singh Randhawa told The Hindu that four students had approached the police accusing their seniors and staff of sexually assaulting them, and beating and threatening to kill them.

“The other two students said that they were sodomised in their sleep, which seems improbable. Medical exam of the two students is under way,” he said.

The matter came to light on Sunday afternoon when the parents of some of the students visited them at the gurukul’s hostel on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan.

The students purportedly told their parents that their seniors and staff would take them to the roof of the institute during the night and assault them. The students alleged that they were beaten and threatened with a knife when they tried to resist.

Child Welfare Committee chairman (Rohtak) Raj Singh Sangwan said he would visit the gurukul on Monday. All students will be counselled to ascertain whether there are more sexual assault cases, he said.