Mohan Kuthar
Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal (GA)
Mangalore : Sexual Harassment on Minor - Community Leaders Trying to Protect Madrasa Teacher?
While the entire city is raged with the reported sexual harassment of a six-year-old student by a Madrasa teacher, it is gathered that efforts are made by a few Muslims leaders to protect the accused Abdul Khader Yamani.
As reported earlier in these columns Yamani, a teacher at Madrasa at Boliyar near Mudipu here was arrested on Sunday August 25 on sexual harassment charges following a complaint by girl’s mother.
It is said that Yamani who originally hails from Poyyatabail had shifted his base to
Boliyar a few years ago and had been appointed teacher at the Boliyar Madrasa a few days before the Holy Month of Ramadan had begun. He started sexually assaulting the six-year-old girl from the first day itself. The torture continued for over a month. The girl did not report it to anyone since Yamani had threatened her. However a few days ago, she revealed about this with some of her classmates who in turn brought up the matter to the notice of the school teachers.
The girl then also informed her mother about her plight. Though the teachers advised the mother to report it to the police, the girl’s mother took up the issue with the local mosque and demanded that suitable action be taken against Yamani.
Accordingly the community leaders had called for a meeting on Sunday. However, the girl’s mother later said that they took an adverse decision without even informing the survivor and her mother. When the parents enquired the religious leaders as to why the issue was being covered up, they tried to persuade her not to blow up the issue.
Peeved by irresponsible attitude of the community leaders, the parents reported the issue to the district Child Welfare Committee first and then to the Konaji police, who then arrested Yamani.
Some of the locals even said that Yamani has been facing several similar charges of sexual harassments as he has often abused girls and young women. After coming to know about the real face of Yamani, the locals are greatly enraged. Even the majority of local Muslims have demanded that stringent action must be taken against Yamani.
However, news is abuzz that systematic efforts are on by some leaders to protect the accused. Pressure tactics are being used to force the survivor to withdraw their complaint. A few of the leaders are trying their level best to cover up the entire issue by supporting Yamani. This has left the local community divided in two. It is also said that some other girls and young women who had been sexually assaulted by Yamani too are planning to lodge complaint with the police.
But once the police arrested Yamani, a few of his supporters and sympathisers gathered near Konaje police station. They were of the opinion that Yamani is innocent and he is being framed by some vested interest.
Even though the police tried to inform them that Yamani was facing serious charges, the protestors did not budge and tried to storm the police station. The situation was then brought under control by the police.