BAGALKOT: In a disturbing and inhuman incident, a 16-year-old mentally challenged boy was brutally assaulted at the Divya Jyoti Special Children’s Residential School in Sector No. 54 at Navanagar of Bagalkot. The victim, Deepak Rathod, was allegedly beaten with a belt and plastic pipe by the teacher, Akshay Indulkar, while his wife Malini too allegedly joined him in the assault. The residential school is run by the couple.
The attack on the boy continued even after he fell on the ground and was rolling and writhing in pain. The couple also threw chilli powder into the boy’s eyes, stated a police complaint filed by the boy’s parents.
Though the incident occurred almost three months ago, it came to light only now after a video of the assault went viral, and his parents too saw it. The victim is said to be from Mantur village in Mudhol taluk.
When enraged parents gathered in front of the residential school and demanded strict action, the police rushed to the spot and initiated an inquiry.
Boy’s mother Parvati Rathod said they admitted Deepak three years ago and paid a monthly fee of Rs 6,000.
Mom demands closure of school soon
“I was shocked to see my son being beaten up so brutally by the teacher who runs the school. I demand that the government shut down the school immediately for the safety of the children,” the boy’s mother Parvati Rathod said.
Bagalkot Superintendent of Police Siddharth Goyal said the accused husband and wife, running the school under an NGO, have been taken into custody and are being questioned. An FIR is being registered based on the complaint filed by the child’s parents. The Child Development Project Officer and Child Rights Protection officials visited the centre.
It has now been revealed that the school was being run without the mandatory licence. The Women and Child Development Department has initiated steps to to shut the school, while the district administration is shifting the children to other, safer facilities. Steps are on to initiate disciplinary and legal action against those responsible for running the centre illegally.