The Bannerghatta police apprehended six students of an international school on the outskirts of Bengaluru and arrested their hostel warden last week after a minor boy was ragged and sexually assaulted.
According to the police, the 15-year-old boy was targeted by the six senior students at the hostel over four days. On September 3, the suspects allegedly stripped the boy and forced him to dance naked, beating him with steel hangers when he stopped. The abuse continued the following night despite the boy begging to leave him alone. On September 5 and 6, the senior students harassed him by allegedly pouring hot and cold water on him.
A police officer said, “The student had complained to the warden. But he ignored it, considering it to be a minor issue. Later, he informed the boy’s parents, who immediately approached the police and filed a complaint. The warden has been arrested on the charges of negligence and failing to act despite knowing about the incident.”
The police have registered cases under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Juvenile Justice Act, and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act, covering charges including criminal intimidation and sexual assault in connection with the incident.
The principal of the school has appeared for questioning in connection with the incident, the police said.
In July, a 22-year-old man who hailed from Hassan district and was studying engineering in architecture in Reva University in Bengaluru died by suicide following online harassment by his classmates.