As the results of National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) were declared on Monday, 18-year-old Saira* was left in grief, for she failed to clear the cut-off. Almost a month after appearing for the entrance test at Lions School in Palakkad, Saira has now joined another coaching centre to prepare for the entrance test, with the horrors of appearing for NEET still fresh in her mind.
Saira, along with several other girl students, were made to remove their bras before entering the exam hall, citing no-metal substance rule. The metal hook in their bras, was apparently, a violation.
During the exam, Saira alleged that a male invigilator repeatedly stared at her chest, making her uncomfortable. The teenager had lodged a complaint with the Palakkad North Town police, against the male invigilator just days after the incident, but it appears that there has been no headway in the case.
When TNM asked the police about the case, they said that they were yet to identify the male invigilator, against whom charges of outraging the modesty of a woman (Section 509) have been framed.
While the newly appointed Sub-Inspector said that he needed time to look into the case since he took charge only recently, the jurisdictional Circle Inspector who probed the case said that they haven't identified the accused yet.
"We have a name with us, which we got from the school documents. We have written to the CBSE for confirmation of his identity. He is not a Malayali, the male invigilator is from Andhra Pradesh. So, it is taking time to get confirmation," the CI reasoned.
However, the police team had taken details of the male invigilator as well as statement of the girl, soon after the complaint was lodged. But a month since, the probe seems to have come to a standstill.
Saira's statement was recorded before a magistrate.
Saira's cousin Aaziya Shafi, who accompanied her for filing the police complaint told TNM that they would wait for a couple of days more to see if the police will confirm the identity of the accused and proceed to arrest him.
*- Name changed to protect identity