'Raped, beaten, burnt with cigarette': Autistic brothers abused by staff at Dehradun boarding school

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Two autistic brothers, aged nine and 13, were allegedly brutally sexually assaulted and mentally tortured by the caretaker of an illegally-run boarding school in Dehradun.

Their mother filed a police complaint and a 29-year-old hostel caretaker was arrested and a case was registered under section of the POCSO act, reported India Today.

As per reports, the mother had recently enrolled her sons into a boarding school after her husband's death, as she found it difficult to manager her job and care for her autistic sons. She found the school through an online search.

The horrific incident came to light last Friday when their mother visited them at the school. Seeing their mother both the children broke down, and told her everything.

The children informed her that the caretaker would beat them with an iron rod, burn them with cigarettes, and molest them.

The mother then filed a complaint against the school administration, leading to the arrest of the caretaker, Sonu.

The state Child Rights Commission has intervened in the situation after speaking with the children to gather details and has confirmed that the special school was operating without the proper permits.

The report citing commission chairperson Geeta Khanna said, “A woman was running a special school for individuals with disabilities, but she did not have the necessary permissions to operate such a facility. Recently, they hired the accused, Sonu, but his police verification was not completed, and we could not find any appointment letters.”

The allegations of sexual harassment revealed further irregularities, which led to the closure of the illegally operated boarding school. Additionally, the police have seized CCTV recordings from the premises. The state Child Rights Commission also stepped into the matter, having spoken with the children to ascertain details, and said that the special school was operating without proper permits.

“A woman was running a special school for persons with disabilities, and first of all, it did not have the necessary permissions to operate such a facility. Recently, they hired the accused, Sonu, but his police verification was not done, and we could not find any appointment letters,” said Commission chairperson Geeta Khanna.

The sexual harassment allegations uncovered other irregularities, leading to the closure of the illegally run boarding school.

Police have also seized CCTV recordings from the premises.