Chhattisgarh Molestation: 2 CRPF Personnel Suspended, Local Police to Investigate

The duo were earlier booked under Section 354 of the Indian Penal Code and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POSCO).

New Delhi, August 9: Two Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were suspended on Wednesday over allegations of misbehaving with schoolgirls during a ‘Rakshabandhan’ event held in a Chhattisgarh school. The duo were booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POSCO) for molesting the schoolgirls and now local police will investigate the matter, reports claimed.

According to news agency ANI, the two CRPF personnel were placed under suspension  after allegations of misbehaviour with the girls during the Rakshabandhan event in a residential school. The report further said that the matter is handed over to local police for investigation and legal action.

The incident came into light when the girls confided about the incident to their school principal and  a case was registered under Section 354 of the Indian Penal Code and POCSO. Additional SP of Dantewada, Abhishek Pallava earlier said that more sections could be imposed after statements are recorded.

Also read: CRPF Soldiers Booked For Allegedly Molesting Schoolgirls at Raksha Bandhan Event in Chhattisgarh

CRPF personnel visited a residential school in the state for a pre-Rakshabandhan event. According to a district official, this event is being held for the past four years and the schoolgirls tie rakhi (ceremonial band) on the CRPF jawans to mark Rakshabandhan.

Reportedly, on July 31, during the visit of the CRPF personnel to the school, the two uniformed men stopped the girls who were on their way to the toilet, on the pretext of frisking and one of them touched the girls.

On August 2, Dantewada Collector Saurabh Kumar reportedly went to the hostel, along with the Dantewada Superintendent of Police (SP) and local CRPF Deputy Inspector General, and spoke to the girls who told them that they were touched by the two men in uniforms while returning from the toilet.