CBSE revokes affiliation of Dehradun School which covered up gang rape

Uttarakhand: After the shocking case of gangrape of a 16-year-old has come to light from a boarding school in Dehradun, CBSE on Tuesday cancelled the school’s affiliation. Earlier, the Uttarakhand education department had announced that it would cancel the licence and no-objection certificate (NOC) issued to the school for covering up such a heinous crime. The State government had recommended CBSE for ending the recognition of the school. The incident, as per the police officials, came to light a month after it took place on August 14.  As per the police officials, 4 minor students, all aged 17-year have allegedly raped their own classmate. The victim shared her ordeal first with her elder sister who studied at the same school. She informed the school authorities who instead of approaching the police tried to hush it up by threatening to throw the sisters out of school if they disclosed it to anyone, an official said. However, after sometime the elder sister of the survivor confided it to a relative who approached the police. Nine persons, including the students accused of the crime, school officials and employees have been arrested in connection with the case. While three minors boys have been sent to a correctional home in Haridwar by the Juvenile Justice Board, their adult accomplice and five school employees including its director and principal were sent to the district jail in Dehradun on judicial remand The school’s director, principal, administration officer, his wife and hostel caretaker have been arrested for alleged destruction of evidence. As per reports, the arrested school authorities were aware of the incident and they tried to remove the evidence and suppress the matter by getting the girl ‘aborted’. A gang-rape and destruction of evidence case has been filed under the Indian Penal Code and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. (additional input from agencies)