Pune: 15-Year-Old Boy Victim of Sexual Abuse at Educational Institute in Alandi; Two Arrested Under POCSO Act
Pune: 15-Year-Old Boy Victim of Sexual Abuse at Educational Institute in Alandi; Two Arrested Under POCSO Act
A disturbing incident of sexual abuse involving a 15-year-old student has emerged at a well-known Warkari Educational Institute in Alandi, close to Pune. Two staff members from the institute were arrested late yesterday for their roles in the case, making this the third similar incident in the region in just two months.
Dighi Police Station’s Senior Inspector Bapu Dhere stated that a case has been filed. He explained that both individuals involved – the Maharaj who committed the assault and the one who attempted to cover it up – have been apprehended. The court has ordered their police custody until March 10. The victim, who is from outside Pune, was studying at the institute, but further details are being withheld.
The two accused, Mahesh Popat Narode (27) and Gaurav Dattatraya Mali (21), were formally charged based on a complaint filed by the victim at the Dighi Police Station.
As per the police, Mali, who worked at the institute, sexually assaulted the boy for three nights in a row in January, after the victim had gone to bed following dinner. When the victim told Narode about the abuse, instead of responding appropriately, Narode allegedly threatened the boy to keep the incident a secret. This recent case has added to the growing controversy surrounding Warkari institutions in Alandi.
The incident has ignited anger among local residents, who are now calling for the closure of all Warkari educational institutions in Alandi. This demand follows recent inspections ordered by Rupali Chakankar, Chairperson of the Maharashtra Commission for Women, in response to earlier reports of sexual exploitation within these institutions.
Despite the administration’s attempts to inspect these institutions, the ongoing nature of these incidents has led to calls for stricter action. The Women and Child Development (WCD) department had previously conducted inspections, revealing poor living conditions and insufficient facilities in many dharamshalas. PSI Shingare, under the direction of senior officers from the Pimpri Chinchwad Police, is conducting a further investigation into the matter.
