Inquiry panel to look into lapses that led to kidnap of children from school

Chief Executive Officer of the Dharwad Zilla Panchayat Bhuvanesh Patil has constituted an inquiry committee to look into the kidnap of two children from a government school at Kamalapur in Dharwad during school hours.

Speaking to presspersons after meeting the rescued children getting treated at the District Civil Hospital in Dharwad on Wednesday, Deputy Commissioner Divya Prabhu G.R.J. said that based on the inquiry committee report, action will be taken against those responsible, if there have been any lapses.

She said that the incident happened after the lunch hour and already, teachers, members of the school development and monitoring committee and parents have been informed about the safety guidelines.

Instructions have also been issued to prevent the recurrence of such incidents in future, she added.

Ms. Divya Prabhu said that already the Zilla Panchayat CEO has been directed to submit an action plan to the district administration for increasing security on school premises and implementing the requisite guidelines for ensuring safety of students

Earlier, she spoke to the children who suffered injuries in the accident which actually led to their miraculous rescue and collected information from them about the whole incident.

Consoling the children’s family members, she assured them of impartial investigation of the incident to ensure justice.

Later, speaking to police officials, she said that the district administration has taken the case seriously and if there is any need for a special prosecutor to argue on their behalf, the police should submit a report to the district administration.

Zilla Panchayat CEO Bhuvanesh Patil said that based on the report of the inquiry committee action will be taken against those responsible.

During school hours, it is mandatory that teachers are on the school premises and taught students and also took care of their safety. Suitable directions have been issued in this regard, he said.

CCTV cameras

He also said that a circular will be issued to all government schools to install CCTV camerals on school premises. Steps will also be taken towards improvement of school infrastructure and construction of compound walls, he said.

Deputy Director of School Education S.S. Keladimath, Block Education Officer Ramakrishna Sadalagi, District Surgeon Sangappa Gabi, District Health Officer S.M. Honakeri, Assistant Commissioner of Police Prashanth Siddanagoudar and Deputy Director of Women and Child Development H.H. Kukanur were present.