Muktainagar MLA Eknath Khadse said that everything possible to help the girls and their families was being done.
CNN-News18 further reported that the police said that it is possible that other cases of sexual assault on the girls in the school might also come out now.
A Special Investigative Team (SIT) has been formed under the leadership of IPS officer Shweta Khedekar to investigate this case.
The Times of India report also said that a panel report had pointed out that almost 800 students have died in such ashram schools over 10 years because of poor sanitation and security, medical neglect and food poisoning.
One of the other findings of the panel was the absence of women superintendents, auxiliary nurses and social workers to attend to the children. These schools, by the way, are meant to educate children from the most disadvantaged families.
Another report in Hindustan Times said that Maharashtra has more than 1,000 ashram schools which are run either directly by the state government or by trusts supported by the state government through grant in aid. Around 4.45 lakh students are studying these schools, out of which 1.99 lakh are girls.
(Sourced from agencies, feature image courtesy:oneindia.com)
