A 16-year-old differently-abled boy named Deepak Rathod endured a savage assault with a belt, plastic pipe, and chilli powder thrown into his eyes at the Divyajyoti School for Differently Abled Children in Navagar, Bagalkot, northern Karnataka, around three months prior, as captured in a harrowing leaked video that ignited widespread public fury.
The school’s head, Akshay Indulkar, his wife Anandi (also known as Malini), and two other staff members face arrest and judicial remand following an FIR filed by Deepak’s father, Ashok Rathod, at Navanagar police station under the Juvenile Justice Act, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, and SC/ST Act; parents have long suspected routine abuse at this unlicensed facility housing 40 vulnerable children.
Bagalkot Superintendent of Police Siddharth Goyal confirmed the arrests, noting a prior scuffle between Deepak and another student as the trigger, while Women and Child Development Minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar branded the act “inhuman” and ordered the school’s immediate sealing, with all children safely transferred to government homes pending parental consent.
Brutal Assault Unveiled
The disturbing footage, covertly recorded by a recently dismissed cook and later leaked by a former employee, lays bare the unrelenting violence inflicted on Deepak, a resident of Mantur village who had spent over three-and-a-half years at this residential institution meant to support children with disabilities.
In the clip, Akshay Indulkar pins the boy’s legs to the ground, mercilessly lashing him with a belt and a plastic pipe even as Deepak collapses in agony, writhing and sobbing; Anandi joins in by hurling chilli powder directly into his eyes, exacerbating his torment, while another staff member assists in restraining him and the cameraperson callously laughs instead of intervening, with other frightened children witnessing the horror.
Ashok Rathod, Deepak’s father, lodged the complaint after the video surfaced online, revealing that multiple parents had harboured suspicions of systematic mistreatment at the school, including verbal abuse and physical punishments disguised as discipline.
SP Siddharth Goyal disclosed during the investigation that the assault stemmed from Deepak’s earlier altercation with a fellow student, yet emphasised that such brutality has no place in any caregiving setting; Deputy SP Gajanan Sutar oversees the probe, which includes a detailed spot mahazar at the scene and seizure of the incriminating weapons.
Unlicensed Facility Dismantled
This tragedy unfolded at an institution operated for four years under the banner of Siddhagiri Education and Social Service Institution without the requisite government licence or registration, a glaring lapse in oversight that allowed such abuses to fester unchecked amid 40 children reliant on its care.
The video’s virality prompted swift intervention: authorities sealed the premises on Sunday, rescued the children, and coordinated their relocation to secure government facilities, ensuring parental involvement in the process to prioritise their well-being.
Minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar, after urgent consultations with the district deputy commissioner, condemned the episode as a “stain on society” and mandated rigorous action against all unlicensed special schools, underscoring the state’s commitment to child protection protocols.
Police arrested the four accused Akshay, Anandi, and the two aides conducted medical examinations, and secured judicial custody, with the case drawing scrutiny under multiple statutes to address not just the assault but systemic failures in vulnerable care environments; public outrage continues to mount, amplified by social media shares from parents and activists demanding broader reforms.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
This heart-wrenching betrayal of trust in a sanctuary designed for the most defenceless among us exposes deep cracks in the safeguards meant to shield differently-abled children, calling for urgent overhauls like mandatory annual licensing, surprise inspections by independent bodies, and mandatory empathy-focused training for all staff to replace cruelty with compassion.
The Logical Indian stands firmly for fostering peace, dialogue, kindness, and harmonious coexistence through accountability measures that empower communities to vigilantly monitor such institutions, while pushing policymakers towards robust frameworks that truly nurture every child’s potential without fear.
