15-year-old girl of ashramshala raped, two arrested

Surat: Police in Ahwa town of Dang district arrested two persons, including a 64-year-old man, on Thursday for alleged involvement in the rape of a 15-year-old schoolgirl studying in an Ashram School. The minor was allegedly raped on Jan 19, and she approached the police on Wednesday.
Police arrested the husband of the school trust president for raping the girl, and a female cook for aiding the crime. The accused were booked under various sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. According to the survivor, she was in the school on the afternoon of January 19 when, at around 2pm, she was called into the kitchen by the cook. After drinking something offered by the cook, the girl felt dizzy. Taking advantage of her condition, the 64-year-old allegedly raped her. The accused's residence is on the same campus. When the incident happened, there was no one around except the cook. The survivor went to stay with her family in her village and did not inform anyone about the sexual assault. Later, due to pain and health issues, she revealed the ordeal to her family. On Thursday, locals and political leaders held a protest in Ahwa, demanding strict action against the accused.