Bhopal bus driver's home demolished after alleged rape of 3-year-old
Civic authorities in Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday demolished the house of a bus driver who allegedly raped a three-and-a-half-year-old girl in Bhopal. The accused Hemant Jatav's home in the Shahpura area was demolished by the civic administration citing illegal encroachment. The development comes days after Jatav, now arrested, allegedly raped a nursery school student last week. Here's more.
Why does this story matter?
In a horrific incident, a three-year-old girl studying in a popular international school in Bhopal was allegedly raped by the bus driver in the presence of a woman bus attendant last week. Both the accused have now been arrested. MP government's decision to demolish Jatav's home falls in line with a 'bulldozer justice' trend visible in many Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled states.
Here's more about the demolition
Local authorities demolished Jatav's Shahpura home due to "illegal" construction on Tuesday evening. Jatav had allegedly encroached upon a garden in Vasant Kunj Colony and built an illegal property, India Today reported. Armed with hammers, civic authorities brought down the house, which was vacated before demolition. The police, revenue staff, and municipal corporation reportedly took the joint decision to demolish his home.
Watch: Home of rape accused brought down
Action on school buses by MP administration
Notably, after the incident came to light, Collector Avinash Lavania directed women staff to be deployed on school buses carrying female students. Officials also made CCTV cameras mandatory and directed the school management to take responsibility for the safety of students, further threatening legal action in case of negligence. Additionally, the role of the school is also being questioned in this case.
Nursery student raped on the way back home
The bus driver, who reportedly joined the school about three months ago, allegedly raped the girl on the way back to her house on September 8. He also changed her school dress with a spare set of clothes kept in her bag, the police said. The incident came to light after her mother inquired about the dress change.
How did the crime come to light?
The mother reportedly asked the school principal and her teacher about the child's dress change. They both denied having any knowledge of the same, after which she counseled her daughter. The three-year-old, who had complained of pain in her private parts, revealed that Jatav allegedly touched her inappropriately and engaged in certain acts. She also informed her mother that he changed her clothes.
Two people arrested, child's medical report awaited
The girl's parents filed a complaint against Jatav and the bus attendant Urmila Sahu. They were booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and IPC Section 376 (rape). Makrand Deoskar, Bhopal Commissioner of Police, told Hindustan Times, "The bus has CCTV cameras, but the school informed...they used to delete the footage every two-three days." The child's medical report is awaited.
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