The CRPF also constituted a four-member committee, led by RK Lal, DIG (CRPF), Dantewada, to investigate the charges. The director general of CRPF sought a detailed report in the Dantewada molestation case. The alleged molestation has the potential to reverse the government’s gains to win the heart and mind of the tribals. The Chhattisgarh government has been making efforts to wean away the younger generation from Maoist influence by opening schools in remote areas and getting the children to stay in hostels. The alleged molestation can potentially snowball in a crisis situation in the Bastar region where security forces have been accused of human rights abuse and rape. Tribal leader Soni Sori also visited the school a couple of days back but the warden did not allow her to enter the school. Himanshu claimed that the CRPF camp in Palnar is just 100 metres from the hostel and that other atrocities of the CRPF officers were also reported in recent past. The warden later complained about the act to senior administrative officers but nothing was done,” he said. “The personnel molested them in name of frisking.
When the programme concluded, few girls went to the toilet and there they were molested by the CRPF personnel,” Himanshu Kumar told HT. “There was programme of a private news channel on Rakshbhandhan going on in the hostel in which the CRPF personnel were invited so that the girls could tie rakhi on July 31. Read more: Chhattisgarh lines up women commandos to battle Maoists in Bastar amid accusations of rape The matter also came into light after an activist, Himanshu Kumar, wrote a Facebook post on Sunday about the alleged molestation. “The statement of the girls will be taken and the accused will be identified,” he added. Pallav also said the issue is a serious one and proper investigation in the case will be carried out. More sections can be added based on Section 164 of the CrPC and statements of victims.” “An FIR under Section 354 IPC has been registered promptly at Kuakonda police station.
“We have received a complaint from the warden of the hostel against the unknown men in uniform and started investigation,” said Abhishek Pallav, additional superintendent of police (ASP) in Dantewada, told Hindustan Times. Palnar, where the alleged incident took place, is 25 km away from the district headquarters of Dantewada. The probe was launched after the warden complained to the police. The Chhattisgarh Police have started an investigation against unknown personnel following a complaint that CRPF troopers had molested a group of schoolgirls at a government hostel in the Maoist stronghold of Dantewada during a cultural programme.