MUMBAI: Taking serious cognizance of the rapes of girl students at Ashram-Shala in Buldhana, the Maharashtra government on Friday revoked the licence of the institute to run the residential school, set up a probe panel headed by a woman IPS officer and ordered an inspection of all such schools across the State. “What has happened is shocking and we have taken serious cognizance of the matter. We have ordered inspection into all such private residential schools and shall not spare anybody,” said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also holds the Home portfolio. Tribal minister Vishnu Savara said the licence of the institute at Buldhana to run the school has been revoked.
“Thirteen people have been identified, of whom 11 have been arrested and a search for the other two is on,” DGP Satish Mathur said. Maharashtra has around 525 tribal boarding schools meant for 2.10 lakh students from more than 10 districts. Some of these are run by the government while some are aided.
A case has been registered against main accused Itusing Pawar under IPC 376 (rape) and POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act) while others have been charged under POCSO. Pawar was a distant relative of one of the girls who have lodged complaints in the case. He was a marketing employee for the school and used to urge parents to send their wards to the school. It was one of the reasons why he was illegally allowed to stay on the premises.