New Delhi - Indian police are investigating allegations of gang
rape and blackmail against eight teachers at a private school in
western India.
A 13-year-old girl accused the teachers in Rajasthan state's Bikaner
district of forcing her to stay back after school hours on the
pretext of extra classes and repeatedly sexually abusing her.
They shot a video of their act which they used to blackmail the
victim, said the girl's father, who complained to the police.
"We have filed a case of gang rape under the Indian Penal Code and
relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences
Act and begun investigations," area police chief Banwari Lal said
Sunday.
He said there had been no arrests so far.
The eight repeatedly raped her for over a year, the father alleged.
When his daughter got pregnant the accused gave her medicines to
terminate the pregnancy, he said.
"We came to know about the crime in 2016 but didn't file the case
because of fear of being ostracized," her father told local media. "I
filed the case now because they (accused) have been harassing me,
they don't even let me step out of the house."
Sexual violence has been a focus of public attention in India since
the fatal gang rape of a student on a bus in New Delhi in December
2012.
Activists say little has changed in attitudes towards sexual assault,
and attacks on women continue unabated.