Activists from Mangaluru meet CM seeking justice for Baby Nirbhaya

Mangaluru, Apr 2: A kind of dissatisfaction is fuming up among the citizens of coastal Karnataka noticing the probable ‘conspiracy of silence’ among the concerned government authorities regarding the recent sexual abuse of a three-and-half-year old nursery student by a 35-year-old school van driver of Mangalore One School, Thokkottu.

A team of activists comprising the members of ‘Justice for Baby Nirbhaya Team (JFBNT), Mangaluru’ met Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah in Bengaluru and urged him to take action against the school, which tried to defend the rapist and leveled false allegations against the innocent child.

The team along with Health and Family Welfare Minister U T Kader submitted a memorandum to the CM requesting him to instruct the authorities concerned to speed up the action and give justice to the little girl. The delegation also met Home Minister K.J. George, Education Minister Kimmane Ratnakar, KPCC President Parameshwar and MLA J.R. Lobo and urged them to pressurizes the concerned authorities to speed up the action.

The delegation thanked Mr Khader for accompanying the activists and felicitating the meetings with CM and other ministers.

The delegation later held a press conference in Bengaluru Press Club and said expressed disgust over the careless attitude of the management of Mangalore One School.

“The awful act of the child abuser has traumatized the entire coastal Karnataka. Moreover, even after several days of the incident, no proper action has been initiated against the school,” they said.

The memorandum includes following demands:

1. Police department not to come under any kind of political pressure and carry out a impartial enquiry into this case and make sure justice is prevailed. Ensure that the culprit or culprits do not escape and to take action against culprits under POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual offences) act.

2. District Administration and Education Department has to proceed with immediate actions as per the provisions of protection of child rights act.

3. In view of the slow process in handling this case, notice should be issued to concerned authorities to speed up the enquiry process. Child abuse / sexual assault cases are to be settled through special courts within a time period of six months and make sure the culprit or culprits are punished without delay.

4. As many of the school managements in the State are not abiding the regulations of child rights protection act, Government has to analyze this situation and collect the proper information in this matter. An enquiry commission has to be set up to look into this issue and implement strict disciplinary measures on school managements for violating the rules of child rights protection act.

5. Awareness regarding POCSO act and protection of child rights act has to be created among the people, society and the institutions through wide range of discussions, sessions and presentations as a measure to prevent child sexual abuse.

6. Ensure the safety of the children in schools in Mangaluru and entire Karnataka.

7. Full security for the family of Baby Nirbhaya, who was sexually abused by school van driver on March 13.