Dehradun: The boarding school in Dehradun which allegedly tried to cover up the gang rape and resulting pregnancy of a class X student was forced to postpone its exams which were to start from Wednesday as many of the students residing in its hostels, mostly girls, have returned home after frantic calls from parents worried for their safety. The school has also not held any classes since Monday when five of its officials, including the principal and director, were arrested for allegedly trying to cover up the rape of a 16-year-old by four of her seniors last month. Four class XII students of the school were also detained for the crime.An official at the school confirmed to TOI that many students have left the two hostels in the premises after the incident came to light. “Of 50 students in school hostels, almost half, most of them girls, have already left for their homes,” he said.When TOI visited the school on Wednesday, a solitary security guard manned the gate. The Uttarakhand State Commission for Protection of Child Rights which visited the school on Sunday had pointed out its lack of security. The girls’ hostel has been functioning without any female warden for the past one month. There are no CCTVs in the premises where both boys and girls are staying.There was apprehension among students with regard to their future. A student told TOI, “The school has held no classes since Monday. Our half-yearly exams were to start from Wednesday but they have been postponed.”Many students said that they were getting calls from worried parents asking them to return home, at least for the time being. “Our parents are worried and have been constantly calling us since the news broke out. We may have to change our school as its name is tainted now,” said a student from Punjab.The school officials were arrested for allegedly trying to cover up the crime. The school management is alleged to have administered home remedies believed to induce miscarriage to the girl. A source privy to the investigation had earlier told TOI that two of the school officials had posed as the girl’s parents after taking her to a nursing home to terminate her pregnancy. They had left after the doctor had asked for an ultrasound to be conducted to confirm the pregnancy.Box:One of 4 accused boys not minor: PoliceDehradun: Dehradun police on Wednesday said that one of the four class XII students accused of raping their junior would now be tried as an adult as it has emerged that he was not a minor. The boy will now be tried under the POCSO Act.All the accused had earlier claimed to be minors but when police checked their school documents one of them was discovered to be over 18 years of age. “The boy belongs to Pilibhit in Uttar Pradesh,” said police. The other students belong to the age group of 15 and 17.Meanwhile, Dehradun SSP Nivedita Kukreti also said that the medical report of the girl was “inconclusive” as she was raped a month ago. The girl also underwent an ultrasound to confirm her pregnancy on Wednesday.

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