Ministers interact with victims' kin , hand over financial aid

Kothagudem: Women and Child Welfare Minister Satyavathi Rathod and Transport Minister Puvvada Ajay Kumar have interacted with the family members of minor girls who were sexually abused by a government school headmaster.

They spoke with the families of five victims at the District Collectorate, here, on Wednesday and handed over financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh to each family offered by the government.

Speaking to the media, Ajay Kumar informed that a five-member enquiry committee headed by Superintendent of Police would be set up to probe into the matter. Similarly, the High Court would be requested to establish a fast track court to hear the case, he added.

The parents of the girls have consented to lodge their children at Bala Sadhan for better care. The ITDA officials were directed to provide fully subsidised essential commodities to the victim's families.

The District Collector was asked to submit a report suggesting measures to prevent such incidents in the future, Ajay Kumar said while Minister Rathod informed that the accused D Sunil Kumar who was the headmaster of Government Primary School was already suspended.

Ajay Kumar, government whip Rega Kantha Rao and former MP Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy also offered an amount of Rs 2.5 lakh (Rs 50,000 to each family) as an immediate assistance from their own pocket. Similarly, MLAs Vanama Venkateswara Rao and B Haripriya each offered one lakh rupees to the five families.

MLAs Venkateshwar Rao and Kantha Rao advised the Opposition parties not to politicise the issue. ZP Chairman K Kanakaiah, Women and Child Welfare Commissioner D Divya, Collector MV Reddy, ITDA PO, P Gowtham and others were also present.