Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
With Inputs from Media Release
Mangaluru, Apr 3: Following the sexual assault on three-and-a-half-year-old girl allegedly by her school van driver, a delegation of social activists from Mangaluru led by Justice for Baby Nirbhaya team, recently met the chief minister Siddaramaiah at his Bengaluru office and submitted a memorandum requesting him to instruct the authorities concerned to speed up the investigation.
The delegation also met home minister K J George, education minister Kimmane Ratnakar, health and family welfare minister U T Khadar, KPCC president Parameshwar and MLA J R Lobo, and submitted a memorandum to them to use their office to influence the government authorities concerned to speed up action on the case.
The delegation said that it was an added value for their peaceful efforts that minister U T Khader accompanied them during their meetings and discussions with all the aforesaid ministers.
A media release from Justice for Baby Nirbhaya team stated, "Social activists and team Justice for Baby Nirbhaya, Mangaluru have expressed their concerns through the recently held press conferences in Mangaluru and Bengaluru, saying that there is a kind of dissatisfaction fuming up among the citizens of coastal Karnataka region noticing the probable 'Conspiracy of Silence' among the government authorities concerned regarding the recent tragic case of the LKG student in Thokkottu, who was sexually assaulted on Friday March 13, allegedly by a 35-year-old school van driver belonging to the school.
"Human rights activists and child rights activists have also participated in these press conferences. The parents of the victim and the peace loving citizens of coastal Karnataka who look for child safety in the region are disappointed due to the lack of response and support from the school management and the government authorities concerned, and are now eagerly demanding swift justice for the victim. This awful act of the accused has traumatized the whole region of coastal Karnataka. Moreover, even after several days of the incident, no proper action has been initiated against the accused," the release states.
JFBN team said, "Citizens in the region believe that justice delayed will result in giving birth to new culprits. It is time now that we all do some soul searching now. God forbid, what if this kind of child abuse happens to our own children! Do we keep quiet? Don’t we wish that the government and the legal authorities take swift action and punish the culprit as well as those who deny the incident and try to support and protect the culprit?"
The release further states, "Aiming to support the eradication of sexual assault on children in and around Mangaluru and to ensure the child safety and protection of their rights, team Justice for Baby Nirbhaya has come up with several peaceful protests with the help of citizens of Mangaluru demanding swift action by the police department as well as other government authorities concerned. It can be recollected that JFBN team recently organized a huge multi-faith candlelight silent protest march in Mangaluru to impress upon the authorities to consider quick action against the culprits and ensure Justice for Baby Nirbhaya.The press meets in Mangaluru and Bengaluru were initiated to support a strong peaceful movement to discourage child abuse and assaults in our coastal region."
The team also submitted memorandum to DDPI and deputy commissioner in Mangaluru an promoted the cause on social media.
In view of supporting the child safety and child rights, JFBN team and the peace loving citizens of coastal Karnataka region have demanded the government to consider / instruct / carry out the following swift actions on priority basis:
1. Police department should not come under any kind of political pressure, carry out a legitimate enquiry into this case and make sure justice prevails for Baby Nirbhaya Mangaluru. Ensure that the culprit or culprits do not escape from justice and to take appropriate penal action with punishments to the culprit/s as per POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act.
2. The district administration and the education department has to proceed with immediate action as per the provisions of Protection of Child Rights Act.
3. In view of the slow process in handling this case, instructions should be given to the authorities concerned to speed up the enquiry process. Child abuse / assault cases should be settled through special courts within a time period of 6 months and culprit or culprits should be punished without delay.
4. As many of the school managements in the state are not abiding by the regulations of Protection of Child Rights Act, the government has to analyze this sensitive and deteriorating situation and collect the factual information in this matter. An enquiry commission has to be set up to look after this matter and the commission has to levy / implement strict disciplinary measures on such school managements which violate the Protection of Child Rights Act.
5. Awareness regarding POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Abuse) Act and Protection of Child Rights Act has to be created among the people, society and the institutions through a wide range of discussions, sessions and presentations as a measure to stop child abuse and assaults in society.
6. Ensure the safety of the children in schools in Mangaluru and coastal Karnataka region and other schools in Karnataka State.
7. Full security for the victim and her family in this particular case.
It is predicted that vast number of people in the region will come out demanding justice for Baby Nirbhaya Mangaluru, and citizens expect swift government action. Social activists and JFBN team from the region have asserted that their peaceful movement will continue till the justice prevailed to the innocent child victim Baby Nirbhaya Mangaluru.