AMBALA: A case of sexual offences has surfaced at a boarding school of Ambala after two class seven students complained of sexual abuse by the warden, who often abused the students staying in the hostel facility.The two students, belonging to Gurugram and Ludhiana, have left the school after being harassed at the hostel. The warden, a resident of Zirakpur in Mohali , has been suspended by the school management.Gurdev Singh, member, district child welfare committee (DCWC) said, “On September 3, the two students complained to the school authorities about sexual abuse and bad touches after which the warden was suspended. Initially, the school tried to hide the matter, but after the reports about the incident got published in local media, the school management gave a written complaint to the Ambala Superintendent of Police (SP), which was received by the head-constable Surinder Singh of Baldev Nagar police station on September 8. The school also failed to provide any termination letter of the accused employee.”“There are nearly 60 students living in the school hostel, out of which three are girls and rest are boys. The school has separate hostels for them. During our surprise inspection visit to the school, some other students of class V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, and X came forward and complained of bad touches by the accused warden. The hostel students complained that the warden used to beat them with hockey and fist if any of the students demanded milk late in the night or asked him to call the parents. The warden also used to threaten the children of spoiling their career if they narrated the incidents at the hostel to anyone”, said Gurdev.“We have also found that there was nowhere in the school any mention of the 1098 helpline for the children, and there was no complaint or suggestion box fixed anywhere in the school. The condition of the hostel mess where the food for children is being prepared and served is found to be unacceptable and unhygienic”, said Gurdev.SP Vinod Kumar said, “On September 10, the Baldev Nagar police station has registered a case against the accused warden under sections 8 and 10 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences ( POCSO ) Act.”Baldev Nagar station house officer, inspector Rajnish Kumar said, “On the complaint of the school management, a case has been registered against the accused warden, and the investigation into this case has been initiated. The accused will be taken into custody soon.”

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