Maharashtra: Girls stripped, forced to dance in government-run hostel
What's the story
The Maharashtra Government has formed a four-member high-level committee to conduct a probe into an incident where girls were allegedly stripped and forced to dance by policemen at a state-run hostel in Jalgaon, Home Minister Anil Deshmukh said on Wednesday. The minister made the announcement in the state Assembly after the issue was raised by opposition members.
Details
Policemen entered facility on pretext of probe
BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar targeted the Maharashtra Government, suggesting it was not serious over the issue. According to reports, some girls from the Ashadeep Women's Hostel complained that people from outside and policemen were allowed to enter the facility on the pretext of a probe and some girls were forced to strip and dance. A video clip of the same has also surfaced.
Information
Girls who denied the demand were beaten and tortured
The Department of Women and Child Welfare provides shelter and food to the destitute and oppressed women and girls in the hostel. According to Lokmat, those girls who denied the demand were beaten and tortured.
Home Minister's statement
Action will be taken after submission of report: Deshmukh
Deshmukh announced, "It is a very unfortunate incident. A four-member high-level committee of officials has been formed to conduct a probe into it. They have been asked to submit a report in two days. Action will be taken as per rules after the report is submitted." Mungantiwar said that the incident is very serious, and called for stricter action.
Information
BJP, Maharashtra Government lock horns over the incident
Mungantiwar alleged that the government was only taking note of such an incident. Replying to him, Deshmukh said, "All information about the incident is being taken. The entire video recording and other documents are sought and statements are being recorded." Objecting to it, Mungantiwar said the police already has all the information about the incident.
BJP's statement
Take immediate action sensitively: Fadnavis
BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis said, "There is a video clip and it would have been a different case had it been just a news report. The video clip of a girl being forced to dance after stripping her is a serious matter." "Our expectation is that you take immediate action sensitively," the leader of opposition said.