Loved ones and parents of a five-year-old girl in class one in India are still struggling to cope with the aftermath of a sexual assault on their daughter that occurred roughly six months ago.
A report by The Print, an Indian media outlet, states that the minor was assaulted by the son of a Kenyan diplomat who is her schoolmate.
However, despite the serious accusations and being an adult, the Kenyan man, who is a class 12 student, has not yet faced any charges.
The police informed the Indian publication that the lack of action was a result of the diplomatic immunity granted to him, saying, “The accused has diplomatic immunity. We have contacted the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). His diplomatic immunity prevents us from questioning or taking any action against him.
Aside from the police disregarding the issue, the principal of the school is also responsible for not taking action after being informed of the incident when it occurred last year.
As a result of this lack of action, on Friday, February 7, there were large demonstrations outside the school demanding justice for the young girl who was allegedly attacked on two occasions.
“He sexually abused her last August. This occurred on two occasions. She complained one day about frequent urination, so we took her to a doctor. Two doctors verified that she had been sexually assaulted. We notified the school, and they called in all students who rode the bus except for the accused. We were informed that he was on a field trip,” the girl’s father lamented.
“It appears as if both the school and the police are trying to protect the accused. When we ask the police, they say the matter is with the MEA (Ministry of External Affairs) and that MEA will take it up in legal channels. We asked the principal and the police to suspend the accused so that my daughter could at least feel safe now but he hasn’t been. Instead, they have suggested that I change my daughter’s school.”
Reports indicate that she experienced two assaults on the school bus during August and September of 2024. On September 18, 2024, a formal complaint was filed under section 75(2) (sexual harassment) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and section 10 (aggravated sexual assault) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
At first, the victim was scared to identify the perpetrator. However, a few months later in November, she revealed the man’s name to her family, who then reported it to the police.
The father communicated to The Print that initial police inquiries have revealed the culprit to be a repeat offender believed to have committed at least four other similar attacks.
He has not been arrested yet, but he has been expelled from school while investigations continue. The Indian government informed the publication that the issue was being reviewed and multiple legal aspects were being examined.
