BENGALURU: As the investigation in the rape case of the three-and-a-half-year-old girl student of Orchids The International School progressed, the 45-year-old attendant Gundanna, the main suspect behind the incident, was allowed to walk free by the police as no clinching evidence could be found against him.
The police, however, have continued with the probe and questioned seven school van drivers. They also reconstructed the scene of the crime on Friday.
Sources said the suspect Gundanna was let off after it was learnt that the girl may have named Gundanna as "the bad person" as he was scolding and beating the students, which police then took to mean he was the rapist.
"He has been asked to appear before us whenever required," the source said, adding that "none of the other male staff have been detained as nothing concrete has emerged against anyone." The biggest difficulty faced by police is extracting information from the traumatized three and a half year old.
"She doesn't speak much. Our team is yet to extract crucial information from her. It is taking time to make her talk. It is a difficult case to crack, given how tough it is to get information out from a frightened child," the source added.
On Tuesday morning, police interrogated seven school van drivers. "We do not want to leave any stone unturned and we are questioning all the staff of the school. As part of the investigation, the drivers were questioned and their statements verified," the source said.
The police also reconstructed the scene of crime. Additional Commissioner of Police (Law & Order) Alok Kumar "We want to know everything that happened on the day the incident took place and thus we are recreating the scene so that we can fill in the missing gaps."
KEA VIOLATION? What about catching the paedophile?
Acting on the directions of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, DPI has decided to initiate stern action against Orchids for alleged violation of various sections of the Karnataka Education Act.
“A criminal case has been filed against the school at Jalahalli police station and it has been directed to reply to charges, including violation of medium of instruction rules. DPI is considering closing down the school," said a DPI officer.
But shouldn’t the focus be on the violation of an innocent child, and tracking down the paedophile, in a city where children have increasingly become the target of these perverts rather than a violation of the KEA?
