Autistic brothers raped, burnt with cigarettes at boarding school

A disturbing incident in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, has brought the urgent need for robust child protection and neurodivergent safety in India to the forefront.

Two autistic brothers, aged 9 and 13, from Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, were allegedly raped and physically assaulted at an unlicensed boarding facility.

A staff member has been arrested, and the incident has exposed significant regulatory failures in special care institutions across the nation.

The alleged abuse against autistic children came to light last Friday when the boys' mother visited them at the school, a facility presented as a boarding option for autistic children with special needs.

Upon seeing their mother, both children reportedly disclosed an ordeal that began shortly after their admission in April.

Horrific details of the alleged abuse emerge

The mother had admitted her sons to the school following her husband’s death, seeking a care solution that would allow her to manage her job. She located the special needs school online.

Her recent visit, however, uncovered the alleged abuse.

The children identified the accused as Monu Pal (also known as Sonu), 29, from Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh. They alleged he used an iron rod to beat them, burned them with cigarettes to instill fear and silence, and subjected them to molestation and rape.

This grim testimony highlights the critical need for comprehensive caregiver background checks in India.

Police action and ongoing investigation

The mother immediately filed a formal police complaint. Superintendent of Police, Dehradun City, Pramod Kumar, confirmed that a case was registered under sections 64(2) (rape) and 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

Monu Pal, who resided at the school’s boarding facility, was arrested and jailed.

Kumar stated, “The accused, who was staying at the school’s boarding facility, was tracked down. He was arrested and sent to jail.”

He added: “We seized the DVR of CCTV cameras installed inside the boarding facility, which was opened three months ago in a four-room residential building. We are also trying to contact the parents of the other two children staying with the two victims.”

Police facilitated interviews with the two brothers, utilising translators from the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) and assistance from the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR).

CCTV footage from the boarding house has been secured as evidence, aiding the Dehradun child abuse investigation.

Unlicensed operations uncovered: a systemic failure

The Chairperson of the SCPCR, Geeta Khanna, revealed significant operational irregularities.

According to Khanna, the unlicensed boarding school was being run by a woman without the necessary legal permits. It housed autistic children, including the victims, who reportedly slept on bunk beds in the same room as the accused.

This lack of authorization underscores severe flaws in special needs school regulations in India.

Khanna further stated, “A woman was running a special school for persons with disabilities, and first of all, it did not have the necessary permissions to operate such a facility. Recently, they hired the accused, Sonu, but his police verification was not done, and we could not find any appointment letters.”

It was also disclosed that the woman operated a separate ‘prep school’ for special children nearby, which had 15 students, four of whom opted for the boarding facility.

The trust allegedly operating these facilities was registered in Delhi but had failed to inform local authorities about either. Khanna indicated that Monu Pal was hired on May 16, with the alleged abuse commencing soon after.

The sexual harassment allegations have led to the closure of the illegally run boarding school.

The investigation is ongoing. The identity of the victims has been withheld in accordance with Supreme Court directives.

A deeper crisis: Ensuring safety for Neurodivergent lives

Every time news of such horrific abuse against autistic and neurodivergent individuals surfaces – whether in India, or across the globe – it chips away at our hope for a truly inclusive and safe world for neurodivergent people.

These stories are not isolated incidents; they are symptomatic of a pervasive societal failure to protect those who are often misunderstood and marginalised. The heartbreaking truth is that no place, no country, feels entirely safe for neurodivergent children and adults.

While accountability is pursued, the deeper questions remain: How could this happen?

And more importantly, how do we prevent child abuse in special needs facilities?

This agonising incident, among many others, underscores the critical need for constant vigilance and robust support systems for neurodivergent children and adults, especially when placed in institutional care.

We don’t know how many more institutional abuse stories like this go untold.