A 55-year-old peon, Ramesh Dagdu Sathe, has been arrested for allegedly raping two 11-year-old students at a children’s shelter in Pune. The incident occurred on June 7 but was revealed only after the victims confided in the shelter’s management.
Police reports indicate that Sathe tied the hands of the minors, stuffed cloth in their mouths and sexually assaulted them. He allegedly threatened to kill the children if they spoke about the incident.
The case was initially registered at Ghodegaon Police Station but later transferred to Lonikand Police Station and filed under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
The manager of Sahyadri Adivasi Gramin Vikas Pratishthan, which runs the shelter, noticed the children’s disturbed behaviour and loss of appetite. After gentle questioning, the victims disclosed the assault, leading the manager to inform the authorities.
The children, placed in the shelter under the Child Welfare Committee’s (CWC) orders, are now receiving counselling to help them recover from the trauma.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Himmat Jadhav confirmed the arrest and assured that investigations are underway to ensure justice is served.