NHRC takes suo motu cognizance of the reported sexual assault of 13 girl students in an alleged fake NCC camp at a school in the Krishnagiri district of Tamil Nadu

Press release

National Human Rights Commission

New Delhi: 21st August, 2024

NHRC takes suo motu cognizance of the reported sexual assault of 13 girl students in an alleged fake NCC camp at a school in the Krishnagiri district of Tamil Nadu

Issues notices to the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police, Government of Tamil Nadu calling for a detailed report within two weeks

It is expected to include the status of the FIR and the victims’ health & counseling

The State authorities also asked to find out if any other student was subjected to abuse or ill-treatment during the four similar camps organized in the district

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that 13 girl students were sexually assaulted in an alleged fake National Cadet Corps (NCC) camp at a private school in Krishnagiri district of Tamil Nadu during the 5th-9th August, 2024. 41 students including 17 girls attended the camp. Allegedly, a political leader convinced the private school authorities that he would get them a unit of the NCC if they could organize a students’ camp. Four other schools in the district also had organized such camps.

The Commission has observed the contents of the news report, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of the human rights of the victims. Apparently, the victim girls were subjected to abuse by the perpetrator due to the negligence of the school authorities. Accordingly, it has issued notices to the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police, Tamil Nadu calling for a detailed report in the matter within two weeks. It is expected to include the status of the FIR and the status of the victim’s health and their counseling.

The Commission has also asked the State authorities to reach out to the students who attended similar camps organized by the same person in the four other schools of the district and find out if anyone was subjected to abuse or ill-treatment. The report should also mention about the steps taken/ proposed to ensure that such incidents do not recur.

According to the media report, carried on 20th August, 2024, the matter came to light when one of the victims informed the Principal of the school about the incident during the camp but the staff reportedly tried to hush up the matter till she told her mother who approached the police.

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