In a shocking incident from Karnataka's Bagalkot district, the police have arrested a couple operating a residential school for children with special needs. The arrests followed the circulation of a viral video depicting the brutal assault of a 16-year-old differently-abled student, which included throwing chilli powder into his eyes.
Viral Video Exposes Three-Month-Old Brutality
The disturbing event took place at the Divya Jyoti Special Children’s Residential School. While the alleged assault occurred approximately three months ago, it came to public attention only last week after a video of the incident went viral on social media platforms. The footage, reportedly recorded by a former cook at the facility, prompted immediate outrage.
The accused have been identified as Akshay Indulkar and his wife Malini, who managed the school. According to the complaint filed by the victim's parents, their son had been attending the institution for three years, with the family paying a monthly fee of Rs 6,000.
Details of the Assault and Immediate Fallout
The complaint details a harrowing sequence of events. It alleges that Akshay Indulkar physically attacked the teenage boy. After the child fell to the ground in pain, the couple allegedly threw chilli powder into his eyes. Upon seeing the viral video, the boy's parents were horrified and immediately approached the Bagalkot police to file a formal complaint.
The victim's mother expressed profound shock, stating she was devastated to witness her son being beaten by his teachers. She vowed to fight for the safety of other children, telling media, "For the safety of other children, I will fight to shut down this school." Enraged parents and local community members gathered in protest outside the school, demanding stringent action, which compelled police to rush to the scene and initiate a swift inquiry.
Police Action and Regulatory Failures
Siddharth Goyal, the Superintendent of Police for Bagalkot, confirmed the arrests. He explained that the investigation revealed the assault was triggered after the victim had a fight with another student at the school. The cook who recorded the video was subsequently dismissed from her job.
Authorities have filed a case under the stringent Juvenile Justice Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The probe also uncovered a critical regulatory failure: the school was operating without the mandatory license. Following this discovery, the Women and Child Development Department issued a notice and directed officials to shut down the facility immediately. Officials from the child development project and child rights protection bodies have also visited the centre.
This case has highlighted severe lapses in the oversight of residential institutions meant for vulnerable children and has sparked a broader conversation about the protection and rights of differently-abled students in India.
