Minor girls at Jehanabad Boarding School in Bihar accuse caretaker of being a violent alcoholic

Patna: Scathing allegations have emerged against the caretaker of a state-run residential school in Bihar. This case of child abuse comes at a time when the Supreme Court is still hearing arguments against the widespread abuse of minor inmates at a shelter home in the state's Muzaffarpur district. While a senior official said that the matter is under active investigation, the nature of the allegations is unnerving.

In their complaint to authorities, minor girls staying at the Jehanabad Boarding School in Bihar claimed that the caretaker responsible for looking after them consumes alcohol on a daily basis. They went further to allege that the accused thrashed an inmate on at least one such occasion while under the heavy influence of alcohol.

Responding to the allegations, District Magistrate Naveen Kumar told media outlets that an FIR has been registered against the "NGO person who was working as a caretaker" in the girl's hostel. Kumar added that an inquiry has been initiated into the matter and security measures have been heightened at the Jehanabad Boarding School. A wall will be constructed there and CCTV cameras will be installed to ensure the safety of the inmates, added the DM.

As part of a slew of measures, only females will now be allowed to enter the premises of the girls' hostel at the Jehanabad Boarding School. Concerned authorities have also written a letter to the superintendent of police, requesting more police patrolling around the hostel. However, Kumar also said that a letter in this regard has been sent to the state government "against NGOs". 

According to a report, one of the students claimed that the teachers of the school were also siding with the caretaker and one of them even threatened the students against reporting the accused's behaviour to authorities. The child was threatened with expulsion from the school if she were to register an official complaint. Another student said that the caretaker frequently consumed alcohol in the mess room.

This case of abuse has emerged less than two months after a bench of the Supreme Court directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to complete its investigation into allegations of abuse at the Muzaffarpur shelter home. A social audit by volunteers of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) had revealed that the shelter homeowner Brajesh Thakur and his aides frequently tortured and sexually abused the minor inmates who were made to live in prison-like conditions and even forced into flesh trade.