Panaji:
NDTV speaks to the father of the seven-year-old girl who was allegedly raped in a toilet in her school in Vasco in south Goa. The father reveals some shockingly insensitive statements made by state officials who visited the girl.
Below is the transcript:Introduction: Even if a child suffers a minor injury, very often the parents get agitated. Imagine the trauma and suffering not only of the victim, but also the parents who have to live with the fact that their 7-year-old daughter was raped inside her school. Joining us now is the father of the minor girl who was sexually assaulted here in Goa.
NDTV: Sir, you have given us your consent, you have come here voluntarily to meet NDTV. What is it that you want to say and why have you come out in the open?
Girl's father: I have voluntarily come here to give this interview to NDTV. The main purpose why I am interested is that I am very much shocked about this incident, which has happened in the school premises and this has not only shocked me but also the people of the school and around Goa because this is right in the heart of the school where it has occurred and the most shocking thing is that it is a rape which has happened to a small child, my small girl, a 7-year-old girl. So we are in a very big shock and this has occurred at a time when a child is in the school.
NDTV: How is your daughter recuperating now?
Girl's father: My daughter is in great shock. But I still hope that her condition will improve. In three days' time we have made her think that she is not alone and we are there. That is our main motive that our daughter should not suffer and think that something has happened to her.
NDTV: Is your daughter able to sleep at night? Are you taking her to a psychologist?
Girl's father: For the first two days she was very disturbed, one person from the NGO had come and she had assisted. Even the crime branch, police inspector - a woman - has supported us very much and she has approached the child personally. In that way the crime branch has just made her think that we are not investigating you that we are just trying to learn something from her (sic).
NDTV: There have been several lapses in the entire incident, where we saw that the security of the school was poor. One gate was not guarded. But more importantly we do have information and now the police have also confirmed that one of the teachers washed away evidence. They washed the clothes. That has damaged your case?
Girl's father: That is there very much. The security was very weak and it has happened during a time where interval session was there and the culprit had entered in the school in the toilet where the classrooms are very close. Nobody knows who has come inside and who has raped my daughter. Happens they are washing away the evidence. I think this a very big lapse on their part.
NDTV: Do you buy the argument or do you think that many of the protesting parents are saying that the administration is hiding something?
Girl's father: When the incident occurred the headmistress didn't think it necessary to inform the police on the spot. That was the major lapse on her part, and even after the incident occurred the girl's clothes were washed. In that way, I felt that there was something fishy, because a highly educated person did this. Like at home we are their parents, but in school they are the parents, and if something like this happens, they are washing away the evidence. I think this a major lapse on their part.
NDTV: Have you complained to the police about that part? That's what they told your wife?
Girl's father: The crime branch inspector Sunita Sawant made a query regarding this. I have informed her about everything regarding this incident and even whatever information I am getting, I am informing her and even to the Mormugao police and Vasco police so that they crack this case.
NDTV: The investigations are on sir and currently the headmistress has been suspended by the administration but do you feel another case of destruction of evidence against the teacher should also be lodged as an example as to what one should not do in a case of rape?
Girl's father: As per the law of the Indian constitution, I feel so that this should happen and this will surely happen because the crime branch of Goa is very much shrewd and they will do the necessary.
NDTV: It's been five days since this incident and that has not really happened, they have not been able to nab the accused. Are you getting a little jittery over the pace of the investigation?
Girl's father: I am very much tensed, but since this was a blank case, the police are not getting the particular person and there are different types of sketches being shown to the police. The police are also just in a situation where they are thinking who to catch and whom to catch but I am very hopeful and I am praying to God that they will crack this case at the earliest
NDTV: Someone from the management came to meet you and said something which you could not believe you were hearing?
Girl's father: Ya. A person from the management appeared and said that he thinks that the child has not suffered much. For that I was very much shocked and I felt like saying something but it was not the right time to say anything. He had come to the house to see how my daughter was? But it was very shocking to hear what he said.
NDTV: He said that she has not suffered much. But actually she has those scars for life.
Girl's father: He said this directly and I was taken aback.
NDTV: Naturally as a father you must have felt extremely bad at how the school has responded?
Girl's father: In fact all parents are shocked about whatever has happened.
NDTV: Statements like this make it even worse?
Girl's father: Ya
NDTV: Do you think that you will get justice on this. Like if you see the Delhi rape case, unfortunately the victim died there, do you think that the awareness has come down in Goa? The police especially are they working on that pace.
Girl's father: Goa is a state where most people are educated, in a very fast pace and just as the handling in this case. I am having faith in the Goa police. I am sure wherever the culprit is, he will be caught.
NDTV: Is there trust between a parent and a school that their child is going to be all right. What are your thoughts at this point of time?
Girl's father: There should be assurance that children are safe, like in rural areas we know that children are going to school walking and there are no compound walls or CCTV cameras. There should be safety measures.
NDTV: We will surely bring this up that what was said to you insensitively. If you can make it to the chief minister through NDTV, what will you like to tell him?
Girl's father: I would like to tell the chief minister of Goa that he should shoulder the responsibility of all the students of Goa so that all are safe. Right up from kg level to the higher classes as currently he is the father of Goa. So he should shoulder all the responsibilities. It may take two months or even three months.
NDTV: What would you appeal to the chief minister and police regarding this case?
Girl's father: I would like to tell the chief minister to shoulder his responsibility and look into this case. I am sure that the police department will crack this case soon.