Child Abuse Case: Warden Brands Students at Rajasthan Gurukul

Barmer, August 21 (PTI): A disturbing case of alleged child abuse has emerged from a gurukul in Rajasthan's Barmer district. A teacher-cum-warden at the institution is accused of branding two young students with a hot iron rod as a form of "discipline" for bed-wetting, officials reported on Thursday.

The incident allegedly took place on August 17 at the gurukul situated in Harpaliya village within the Sedwa area. This gurukul, operational since 2022 and run by the Harpaleshwar Mahadev Vikas Seva Samiti, caters to children from economically disadvantaged, nomadic, and orphaned backgrounds.

Police investigations revealed that the case came to light after one of the children escaped the gurukul during the night and informed his family about the alleged abuse. In response, a crowd of concerned villagers assembled outside the institution, demanding stringent punitive measures.

Outrage escalated following the circulation of a video on social media, purportedly showing the children's burn injuries and detailing their alleged mistreatment. Chauhatan Deputy SP Jeevanlal Khatri confirmed the detention of Narayan Giri, the accused warden-cum-teacher, hailing from Bharatpur.

"The viral video captured the children claiming they were branded with a hot iron rod, leading to the immediate custody of Narayan Giri," stated Deputy SP Khatri. Meanwhile, Block Education Officer (BEO) Prakash Chand Vishnoi announced a departmental investigation into the matter.

"A committee has been constituted to assess the situation. We undertook a visit to the gurukul and engaged with the children, their guardians, and the institution's staff to ascertain the facts, and the report will be submitted shortly," Vishnoi explained.

Preliminary findings suggest that the accused allegedly branded the children, aged approximately 10 and 11, following incidents of bed-wetting during sleep. Additionally, the children reported exposure to physical assault and threats aimed at ensuring their silence, noted an official connected to the inquiry.

The viral footage also featured villagers claiming that the warden had previously assaulted them with sticks. Authorities emphasize that the investigation will also scrutinize the appropriateness of the gurukul's supervision.

Meanwhile, fervent calls for stringent legal repercussions and potential closure of the gurukul, should negligence be substantiated, have been voiced by parents and local residents.

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