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Four minors raped at school
for mute in Kerala

Four minors were allegedly raped by four hostel-mates at a government school for mute at Trivandrum.

The incident came close on the heels of a sexual exploitation case at a tribal hostel at Palghat, where a minor tribal gave birth to a child recently. While the girls at the tribal hostel were found exploited by outsiders, the hostel inmates of school were outraged by colleagues.

This is mainly because boys and girls are housed together in one building at the school. Sources said that the exploitation was going on in collusion with the authorities.

The Museum police, who are investigating the case, have no means of communicating directly with the accused and the victims. Some victims have also claimed that the sexual act had their consent.

However, the police have registered a rape case under section 376 of the Indian Penal Code since they are minors. They have taken recourse to the law, which states that sexual acts with minors, even with consent, constitute rape and have arrested one boy. The four boys involved in the case are aged 17-20, according to the police.

The boys and the victims were expelled from the school after the incident came to light. However, the police have deputed a team to apprehend the boys.

The sexual exploitation case at the school is not isolated. A girl was recently found pregnant. Members of the Kerala Women's Commission, who visited the school on Monday, said as per reports they received such incidents have been on in the school for quite some time. Commission chairperson Sugathakumari said political intervention against attempts to check anti-social activities in the school had also come to their notice.

She refused to give details. "We will investigate the case further and submit our report to the government," she added.

Sugathakumari said that conditions at the school and hostel were not safe for girls. "There are only four wardens to look after about 400 male and female students in one building," she added.

The conditions worsened after senior students moved in following introduction of higher secondary and vocational higher secondary courses last year.

Sources said that some seniors, aged above 20, were involved in most anti-social activities.

Some parents told the commission members, accompanied by deputy inspector general of police Shankar Reddy, that some students often took liquor inside the hostel and created trouble.

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