Nashik: The Mumbai Naka police on Friday arrested the caretaker of the hostel who was booked for beating five visually-impaired students.The caretaker — identified as Sandeep Kamble — was arrested after he arrived from his hometown in the staffroom of the hostel on the premises of the social justice department near Nasardi Bridge on Nashik Pune Road.Kamble was produced before a city court that remanded him in two-day police custody. Police sub inspector Sumedh Sonone, who is investigating the case, said the accused would be grilled on why he thrashed the visually-impaired students.“Our initial investigations suggest that Kamble was under the influence of alcohol and thrashed the students as they did not listen to his instructions,” Sonone said.A complaint was lodged against Kamble by Manasi Wazat, superintendent of the state-run hostel and school for visually-impaired on the premises of the social justice department.Wazat stated that Kamble, under the influence of alcohol, thrashed five blind students between the age of 14 and 17 on October 13. In her complaint, she said that the hostel cook, domestic help and watchman on night duty had tried to stop him.However, Kamble punched and beat the students with a cricket bat and did not listen to anyone. Eventually others somehow managed to overpower the caretaker and drive him out of the hostel.Wazat confronted him on Sunday and Kamble said the children were given a beating because they had been disobedient. Kamble also sought a five-day leave that was granted to him.The superintendent brought the matter to the notice of senior officials of the district social welfare department. And on the instructions from senior officials she lodged a complaint with the police. The students told TOI just days ago that they lived in fear as Kamble used to thrash them for one reason or another.Naresh Gite, chief executive officer of Nashik zilla parishad, sent a report in this matter to the state department of persons with disabilities strongly recommending Kamble’s immediate suspension. He also sought an inquiry by the department to check if there was need to terminate his services.The hostel is run by the department of persons with disabilities and Nashik ZP is responsible for its smooth functioning.

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