New Delhi, Aug 21 (UNI) The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Wednesday issued notices to the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police of Tamil Nadu, seeking a report on the alleged sexual assault case of 13 girl students during a purportedly fake NCC camp organised at a school in the Krishnagiri district.
The commission asked the authorities to submit a detailed report in the matter within two weeks.
The report should include the status of the FIR and the status of the victim’s health and their counseling, the NHRC said.
The Commission has also directed the State authorities to reach out to the students who attended similar camps organized by the same individual at four other schools in the district to determine if any of them were subjected to abuse or ill-treatment.
“The report should also mention about the steps taken/ proposed to ensure that such incidents do not recur,” it added.
The NHRC took suo motu cognizance of a media report stating that 13 girl students were sexually assaulted in an alleged fake National Cadet Corps (NCC) camp at a private school in Krishnagiri district, Tamil Nadu, from August 5th to 9th, 2024.
“41 students including 17 girls attended the camp. Allegedly, a political leader convinced the private school authorities that he would get them a unit of the NCC if they could organize a students’ camp. Four other schools in the district also had organized such camps,” NHRC said.
The Commission observed that the contents of the news report, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of the human rights of the victims. Apparently, the victim girls were subjected to abuse by the perpetrator due to the negligence of the school authorities, it said.
According to the media report, carried on 20th August, 2024, the matter came to light when one of the victims informed the Principal of the school about the incident during the camp. However, the staff reportedly tried to hush up the matter until the girl told her mother, who then approached the police.
