Bhuj college striping case: FIR lodged against the Principal but Swami ji says it is tradition

An FIR has been filed against four staff members of Shri Sahjanand Girls’ Institute (SSGI), Principal, peon, rector and lawyer. They were booked for assault, obscenity and criminal intimidation, a report in Ahemdabad Mirror stated.

National Commission for Women took suo-moto cognizance on Friday in the shocking incident in SSGI college, where 68 college girls were forced to remove their underpants to check whether or not the students were menstruating and has set-up an inquiry team to visit and speak with the students of SSGI.

The FIR has been filed by a girl student who was one of the victims of the humiliation in the college, according to Ahemdabad Mirror report.

Sources in Bhuj confirmed to Ahemdabad Mirror that the four were booked under IPC sections 384 for extortion, 355 for assault with intent to use criminal force, 294 for obscenity, 506(2) for criminal intimidation apart from 509 (outraging the modesty of women) and 505 (3) for statements conducing to public mischief at a religious place.

Amid the uproar over the outrageous action of the college, Swami Chakrapani, president of Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha added fuel to the fire by saying during a television debate that everybody is looking into the matter in a negative way, keeping girls in a separate room for four days a month is actually beneficial to them during the time of physical pain.

“This is not a punishment but a normal tradition which is followed in every house in the country,” he said

All 68 girls were taken home by their respective parents. However, police said they were prepared to give any and all of them protection if the need arises.

Police visited the Institute on Friday morning after the reports of striping the girls emerged.

The senior police official said that the girls had, in their statements, informed the police that the incident had indeed taken place after which they had been threatened by officials to keep it under wraps or their careers would be destroyed, Ahemdabad Mirror reported.

The victims reportedly allege that the college staff let off the day scholars early with a warning, shut hostellers in a room guarded by teachers to stop them from speaking to probe team.

Bhuj Superintendent of Police Saurabh Tolabiya, while confirming the developments said, “We have registered an FIR against four persons including the principal, supervisor and two staff members in the matter of outraging the modesty of the girls. The investigation is being carried out by an officer of DSP rank.”

Ahemdabad Mirror quoted Bhuj Division DSP J N Panchal as saying, “Mahila police officer and personnel went and spoke with the concerned students and have taken their statements. Police Inspector P H Lagdhirka registered the FIR of the complainant. Currently, we are in the process of collecting CCTV footage and other evidence from the hostel and college.”

Anil Pratham, Additional director general of police (ADGP) of Women and Child Cell has reportedly said that the local police has been instructed to take appropriate action and send a report on the matter at the earliest.

After consulting with the state commission for women in Gujarat, NCW Chairperson, Rekha Sharma decided to send a team of officials to investigate the matter.

Ahemdabad Mirror quoted Leela Ankoliya, Chairperson of the Gujarat State Women Commission as saying, “I have spoken to the SP in Bhuj and they have sent a team to investigate the matter with female police officials. Meanwhile, a team from the commission visited on Friday and a senior-level team will also meet the girls on Saturday.”

Condemning the incident Ankoliya said, “We had sent the Naari Adalat team who spoke to the girls and trustees. They are investigating the matter. Such incidents should not happen with women, especially in this day and age. It looks like superstition to us. It wears down the confidence and dignity of women.”

“The NCW has also taken cognisance of the matter,” she added

A team from the Naari Adalat Cell of Gujarat State Commission for Women visited the college and spoke to the girls on Friday and reported their primary findings to Gandhinagar.

This team has been stationed on standby as another team of the commission from Gandhinagar HQ headed to Bhuj on Friday evening. They have gone in advance to receive the delegation being sent from Delhi, according to Ahmedabad Mirror.