On 19th September, the usually calm city of Bhopal was shaken by protests outside Radcliffe School. This wasn’t an ordinary protest; it was a massive outcry led by the Akhil Bhartiya Vidhyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and other Hindu organisations. They were protesting against a heinous crime that had come to light – the alleged rape of a 3-year-old girl student by none other than the school's own computer teacher, Qasim Rehan. What added fuel to the fire was the shocking revelation that the school administration had allegedly tried to suppress the incident rather than taking immediate steps to ensure justice.

The protests weren’t just a momentary show of anger. They were an expression of frustration and outrage, not just against the accused but also against an institution that had failed to protect its students. The crowd demanded strong action, including the immediate sealing of the school, which the administration complied with, closing the gates of Radcliffe School indefinitely. But this was not enough for the protestors – the members of ABVP and the Hindu organisations were adamant in their call for more severe action. They demanded the cancellation of the school’s registration, holding the institution accountable for not just the crime but also the cover-up that followed.

The incident, which shook the community, had occurred on 16th September. The victim, a student at Radcliffe, had gone to the washroom, a mere 15 feet away from her classroom. However, those few steps led to a life-altering nightmare. Qasim Rehan, the computer teacher, allegedly saw this as an opportunity to exploit the situation. He followed the girl child, and when she was isolated, he allegedly raped her in that vulnerable moment. The assault was not discovered until later, when the girl's mother, noticing something terribly wrong, discovered injury marks on her daughter's private parts.

The victim’s mother, who works as a police constable, had immediately sensed that something was off when her daughter returned home that day. Her daughter’s behavior was unusual – a quietness that was both alarming and heartbreaking. As a mother and a law enforcement officer, she knew she had to act. Upon inspecting her daughter, she found a wound on her private part. Her heart sank as she questioned her child, hoping against hope that it wasn’t what she feared. However, her worst fears were confirmed when her daughter recounted the horrifying details of her ordeal. The girl child spoke of the "bad touch" by Qasim, and her mother wasted no time in filing a formal complaint at the local police station.

The school, located in the Kamlanagar police station area, became the center of the storm after the complaint was lodged. This incident not only exposed the deep-rooted issues within the school’s administration but also the larger systemic failure in protecting students. As the case gained attention, the school’s alleged attempt to hide the incident brought them under further scrutiny, sparking the massive protests that followed.

Qasim Rehan, the accused in this tragic case, was a computer teacher at the victim’s school. After the incident came to light, the parents of the 3-year-old girl immediately rushed to the school, desperate for help. They approached the principal, the management, and other staff members, hoping that the school would take swift action to address the terrible assault on their daughter. However, the victim’s family alleges that their efforts were met with a shocking lack of response. According to them, no one at the school paid attention to their complaint about Qasim, nor did the management take any action against him, which left the family feeling unheard and dismissed.

Frustrated by the school’s inaction, the girl’s family had no other choice but to seek justice elsewhere. They went straight to the police station and formally lodged a complaint. The authorities immediately took notice of the gravity of the situation and swiftly registered an FIR under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nayay Sanhita (BNS) and the POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act. Acting on this formal complaint, the police arrested Qasim and sent him to jail. The legal process is now ongoing as the investigation delves deeper into the matter to uncover all details surrounding the crime.

Officials involved in the case confirmed that it was the mother who first noticed the injury marks on her daughter’s private parts. Horrified by the discovery, she quickly reached out to the school authorities, expecting them to take immediate steps to protect her daughter and punish the accused. However, when the school management ignored the serious complaint, the mother took decisive action by contacting the police, ensuring that her daughter's plight would not be swept under the rug.

While the victim's family has accused the school of negligence, the school's administration, along with Principal Swati, have denied the allegations of suppressing the incident or ignoring the complaint. Principal Swati stated that she only became aware of the incident after being contacted by the police, not through the parents of the victim. She further assured the public that the school was committed to taking strict action against the accused teacher, Qasim Rehan, and that the institution would cooperate fully with the investigation.

In light of the public outrage, Madhya Pradesh School Education Minister Uday Pratap Singh also responded to the incident. The minister addressed the concerns regarding the alleged attempt to cover up the matter, assuring that these complaints would be thoroughly investigated. He emphasized that if the accusations of suppression were proven true, the government would take strong action against the school’s management. His statement brought some hope to those demanding accountability, as the investigation seeks to uncover whether there was any deliberate effort to withhold information or delay justice for the victim.

What makes this case even more disturbing is the fact that the accused, Qasim Rehan, had participated in a candlelight march earlier this year. This march was organized to protest the rape of a female biker in the region, an incident that had shocked the community. Qasim’s involvement in the protest adds a chilling layer of hypocrisy to his actions, as he is now accused of a similar crime. According to reports, Qasim was a member of a biker group that included several notable figures from Bhopal, such as police officers, retired colonels, and political figures. This connection has further complicated the case, as it took members of the biker group 72 hours to fully comprehend the severity of the allegations against him. Once they realized the gravity of the situation, they too demanded that appropriate action be taken against Qasim.

The school where this tragic incident took place has a student body of 322 students, all studying in classes 1 to 8. There are 24 teachers employed at the school, but notably, only three of them are men, one of whom is the accused, Qasim Rehan. However, according to the inquiry committee led by SDM Dr. Archana Sharma, statements from the school's principal and other female teachers have been collected. In these statements, the principal reiterated that the victim’s parents did not file any complaint directly with her. Furthermore, she clarified that Qasim Rehan was not officially employed as a teacher, but rather worked at the school as an IT professional.

In light of the incident, the authorities are taking strict measures. An administration official confirmed that the process of sealing the school has already begun. Additionally, efforts are underway to revoke the school’s MP Board affiliation, which would have a significant impact on its ability to function. District Education Officer (DEO) NK Ahirwar provided further details, mentioning that the District Project Coordinator has issued a formal notice to the school. However, any final decision regarding the cancellation of the affiliation will be made with careful consideration, as it directly affects the future of the students currently enrolled there.

In terms of the investigation, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Women Safety) Nidhi Saxena confirmed that the victim’s parents' statements have been formally recorded. Additionally, to ensure the girl's well-being during this challenging time, a support person has been appointed to assist her throughout the legal proceedings. The support person’s statement will also be presented in court as part of the legal process. Disturbingly, it was revealed that the victim had referred to the accused, Qasim Rehan, as “daddy uncle”, highlighting the breach of trust in this situation.

As the investigation moves forward and more details come to light, the case is drawing increased attention, not just for the crime itself but also for the actions, or inactions, taken by the school administration. The involvement of both legal and educational authorities continues to build as the future of the students and the school hangs in the balance.

The case has not only caused widespread outrage but also sparked a deeper reflection on how such incidents are handled by institutions and social groups. As the investigation continues, many are anxiously waiting to see what actions will be taken to ensure justice is served for the victim and whether the school’s role in the matter will be thoroughly scrutinized.

Qasim Watched Child Pornography videos Minutes Before Raping the Girl child

As per reports, while examining the phone of the accused, Qasim Rehan, the police found proof that he had downloaded over 100 pornographic clips. This discovery has added to the gravity of the case, raising more questions about his behavior leading up to the incident. The phone has now been sent for forensic investigation to retrieve further details and verify the content.

Reports also indicate that Qasim admitted to the police that during his free time at school, he had been watching a pornographic clip on his phone. Shortly after, he saw a minor girl heading to the washroom, and it was at that moment that he decided to sexually assault her.

According to the police, Qasim confessed that he had been keeping an eye on the girl for the past 4-5 days, closely observing when she would leave her classroom and go to the washroom. On the day of the incident, he followed her into the washroom, where he assaulted her. The entire incident lasted approximately 2-3 minutes, after which the girl child was sent back to her classroom.

After the girl returned to class, Qasim continued to monitor her movements. When she left the classroom again 30 minutes later, he approached her and warned her not to tell anyone about what had happened. In an attempt to bribe and silence her, Qasim offered the girl a toffee, hoping it would keep her quiet.

These disturbing details have emerged from Qasim’s confession and the investigation, painting a picture of a calculated, premeditated assault. The evidence found on his phone, along with his own admissions, is expected to play a crucial role in the ongoing investigation.

In his chilling confession, Qasim Rehan admitted that he believed the girl child would be an easy target for him. He assumed that she wouldn’t dare tell anyone about the assault, expecting that the incident would go unnoticed. However, to his surprise, the girl found the courage to inform her mother about what had happened, defying his expectations and exposing the crime.

Despite the gravity of his actions, Qasim didn’t stop going to school in the aftermath of the assault. Feeling emboldened by the lack of immediate action from the school, he assumed that nothing would happen to him. However, his confidence was shattered the following day when the victim’s parents filed a formal complaint, which eventually led to his arrest.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been established to investigate the matter thoroughly. SIT chief Nidhi Saxena confirmed that the victim's parents approached the police station on Thursday of last week to report the crime. To ensure the well-being of the young victim, a support person from Bal Kalyaan Samiti was appointed to provide counseling to the girl, helping her through this traumatic period. In addition to this, the girl's statements were recorded on video, along with the statements of her parents, to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the evidence.

The police have also assured the family that they are working diligently to send the case to a fast-track court, aiming to speed up the legal process and deliver justice swiftly. They intend to submit the challan within seven days, ensuring that the case proceeds without delay and the victim's family receives the justice they deserve.