Itanagar: The alleged sexual assault of eight minor students at a private school in Roing, the district headquarters of Lower Dibang Valley, could have been prevented had the institution and local authorities taken timely safety measures, observers closely monitoring the case have said.
Speaking to NewsFy, newly appointed Lower Dibang Valley deputy commissioner Fwwrman Brahma also acknowledged the lapses and said that the deputy director of school education (DDSE) and other local officials have been directed to submit a detailed report on the school within a week.
“The incident was unfortunate, and yes, there were lapses,” Brahma said, adding that three teams have been constituted to conduct a comprehensive safety and security audit of all residential schools in the town.
He further informed that the district administration is extending all possible support to the families of the victims and the school in question has been temporarily shut down. As for permanent closure and punitive action, he said a decision would be taken based on the findings of the audit teams.
Lower Dibang Valley DDSE Amih Lego, when contacted, declined to comment on the issue.
Meanwhile, an independent inquiry conducted by the Arunachal Pradesh State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (APSCPCR) revealed that the school—located in the heart of Roing town—not only lacked basic safety infrastructure but was also operating without formal recognition from the district administration or the education department.
The victims, girls aged between six and nine, were reportedly assaulted over a span of one week by a migrant labourer, identified as Riaz-Ul Kurim, who was employed at a nearby construction site. Kurim was later lynched by an enraged mob after his alleged crimes came to light.
The APSCPCR inquiry report, which was presented before the district administration during a stakeholder meeting recently, highlighted several lapses in the school’s infrastructure and security protocols.
According to APSCPCR chairperson Ratan Anya, while the school compound had a boundary wall and front gate, the rear portion remained unfenced. The attached hostel was described as congested and poorly secured. Although the main entrance to the hostel was fitted with an iron grill, the rear access point had only a sliding window without even a curtain.
The presence of an active construction site adjacent to the school premises further compromised the safety of the students.
This was corroborated by a local police officer as stated in our report earlier. The officer noted that the accused had unhindered access to the hostel due to the absence of secure boundaries and effective oversight, making it easy for him to reach the girls during nighttime hours.
In an interview with a local news channel, Anya stated there was “100 percent negligence” on the part of the school authorities in ensuring the safety and well-being of the children under their care. She has since demanded the permanent closure of the institution.
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