A Class XI student from Sarsuna, on the southwest fringes of the city, who was allegedly sexually assaulted by her elder brother and his friend has stopped attending school.
The minor orphan is now staying in a home for distressed women.
Members of the child welfare committee, who are now attending to the girl’s needs at the home, said she is traumatised and has chosen to stay away from school following the arrest of her brother, his friend and a teen who had allegedly filmed one of the assaults.
“The girl is at a home meant for children — a child care institution — under us and has stopped going to school,” said Mahua Sur Ray of the child welfare committee in Calcutta.
“We have counselled her to help her gain mental strength and complete her plus-2 and then pursue a job-oriented course.”
The student has told officials at the children’s home that she wants to take her annual exams, to start next week, but is not yet ready to visit her school with police protection.
The girl had first told a teacher at her school about the alleged sexual assaults, through an email which she had sent from a friend’s house a few days back.
That was the only way she could speak up about her traumatic experiences because there wasn’t anyone she could confide in, officials at the children’s home said.
The girl used to live with her brother, who worked at a private firm, in a room at her maternal uncle’s house in Sarsuna.
In her complaint, the girl said she was sexually assaulted by her brother, who is several years older than her, a few days back. This was followed by another sexual assault by a friend of the brother.
She mentioned in the complaint that the second assault was filmed by a teenager.
After receiving the email, the school authorities forwarded it to the child welfare committee and subsequently, a case was lodged with Sarsuna police station.
The girl’s brother and the two others were arrested on Tuesday. A case under the
Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) was drawn up against the accused.
A court in Alipore remanded the brother and his friend in police custody till February 21. The teen was produced in a juvenile court.
“We have assured her of all help, including legal support, to fight the case and continue with her studies,” Sur Ray of the child welfare committee said. “She won’t be left to fend for herself after completing her plus-2.”
“We will interrogate the brother again to find out whether this was the first time he assaulted her,” said an officer at Sarsuna police station.
