Pune Madrasa Case: Maulana Rahim sent to police custody on charge of sexual abuse

With the horror of Kathua and Unnao rape still fresh in our minds, yet another shocking incident, reported from Maharashtra's Pune shook the collective conscience of the nation.

Maulana Rahim Shaikh, who on Friday was arrested for sexually assaulting students at a Madarsa in Katraj suburb area, has been sent to police custody till 31 July.

Rahim, 21 was arrested under the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POSCO) Act and will be produced before the court after the primary investigation is done.

A special investigation team has also been set up to monitor probe into the incident.

"Maulana of a Madrasa has been arrested for sexually assaulting his students in Katraj, Pune. Total 36 students have been rescued. A case has been registered against him," the news agency ANI reported.

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All of the 36 students, who were rescued by a Child Welfare Committee from the Jamiatul Khairiya al-Islamiya madrasa, are currently kept in remand homes.

The dreadful incident came to light after two of the victims, aged 10 ran away from the Madrasa and managed to reveal their night-mare before an NGO.

According to reports, the Madrasa also have children from Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, who have been studying at the religious institutions from last nine months.

Trouble found the group of children after Maulana Rahim joined the Madrasa a week ago.

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