Hostel Caretaker: Jalgaon Hostel Caretaker, Wife Held After Abuse Plaint | Nashik News – Times of India

NASHIK: The Jalgaon police have arrested a 31-year-old caretaker of a private hostel and his wife following a complaint of sexual abuse of five girls, all aged under 12, staying at the now-closed facility.

The investigating officer in the case and district deputy superintendent of police, Sunil Nandawalkar, told TOI that the caretaker had allegedly been abusing the girls from August 2022 to June 2023.
The hostel was closed down in June this year, as the owner had some issues with the government over funds. The 18 boys and as many girls staying in that hostel were shifted to a government facility in the same taluka. The five children eventually shared their ordeal with the caretaker of the government hostel who took up the issue with the child welfare committee members of the village and police. The police registered an FIR on Thursday and arrested the caretaker and his wife the same day under relevant sections of IPC and POCSO Act.

NCP MLC Eknath Khadse on Thursday raised the issue on the floor of the Assembly, seeking a response from the state government. Rural development minister Girish Mahajan told the House that the police have arrested two persons in the case.
The police have also registered an FIR against a staffer at the now-closed hostel for allegedly keeping silent on the issue despite having knowledge of the assault.
“All the children are either orphans or have a single parent. They were admitted to the hostel by their relatives,” a police officer said.
(The victim’s identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme court directives on cases related to sexual assault)