Police in Bagalkot, Karnataka, have arrested four individuals following the emergence of a deeply disturbing video showing the brutal assault of a mentally challenged student at a residential special school. The incident, which has sparked public fury, involved staff members allegedly beating a 16-year-old boy with a belt and throwing chilli powder into his eyes.
Shocking Abuse Captured on Video
The alleged inhuman treatment came to light after a former woman employee of the Divyajyoti Residential Special School for Mentally Challenged Children in Navanagar's Sector 54 secretly recorded the abuse. The videos, which subsequently went viral on social media, depict a horrifying scene.
In the footage, the school head, Akshay Indulkar, is seen assaulting the student, Deepak Rathod, with a belt. Simultaneously, his wife, Malini (also known as Anandi Indulkar), is shown throwing chilli powder into the boy's eyes. Another staff member is seen standing on the boy's leg, while others allegedly laugh in the background.
Acting on the viral evidence, a police team led by DySP Gajanan Sutar swiftly intervened. They rescued the children and took the school head and his wife into custody. The police later conducted a detailed spot inspection, or mahazar, at the school premises on Sunday.
Widespread Outrage and Official Action
The graphic visuals triggered immediate outrage and prompted action from multiple authorities. Women and Child Welfare Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar condemned the act as 'inhuman' and a gross violation of child protection laws, confirming that a criminal case had been registered.
In a significant development, Principal Civil Judge Murughendra Tubaki of the JMFC court visited the school for a judicial inspection. He sought details from the police and officials from the women and child welfare department and the Department for the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities.
Investigations revealed a damning fact: the residential school was being run illegally without government permission. Although the parent body, Siddhagiri Education and Social Service Institution, is registered, the special school itself had no authorisation.
Children Reunited, School Faces Shutdown
Officials led by Deputy Director Prabhakar camped at the school. Doctors conducted medical examinations of all children. While records showed 48 enrolments, only 32 children were present. Most parents rushed to the school and took their children home. Four children without immediate guardians were shifted to other authorised schools.
The father of the assaulted boy, Ashok Rathod, filed a formal complaint at the Navanagar police station. The complaint names Akshay Indulkar, his wife Anandi, Ravikant Ashok Budihal, and Vishal Baburao Patil. The four accused were medically examined and produced before a court, which remanded them to judicial custody.
Minister Hebbalkar stated that steps are being taken to shut down the unauthorised school permanently. The women and child development department has also decided to launch an inspection drive to identify if similar illegal facilities are operating elsewhere in the district.
Allegations of Routine Torture and Forced Labour
Parents have come forward with harrowing accounts, alleging that such abuse was routine at the institution. They claimed they paid a monthly fee of Rs 6,000, yet their children were subjected to forced labour.
"They subjected my son to unbearable torture. Since he is mentally challenged, he could not explain what was happening at school. Only after the video surfaced did we realise the extent of their cruelty," said Parvati Rathod, the mother of the assaulted child.
Apart from physical violence, the boy was allegedly forced to clean filth left by other children and wash clothes. A separate video reportedly shows him washing clothes while sitting inside a toilet.
In a twist, police have also taken into custody Ameeda, the former employee who recorded the video, for questioning as they suspect her of making the video viral.
The case has put a spotlight on the regulation of private institutions for specially-abled children and has raised serious questions about their safety and welfare.
