Head of MP training centre hostel arrested for rape, sexual harassment

Bhopal : A man running a training centre and a hostel for hearing and speech impaired girls and women has been arrested on charges of rape and inappropriate behaviour, police said on Friday.

Accused Ashwani Sharma runs the training centre in Awadhpuri here, for which he gets government grants. He also runs a hostel 'Kritarth', where young women undergoing training are offered board and lodging facility.

The crime came to light when a speech and hearing impaired victim narrated her ordeal to her family, which lodged a complaint with Dhar and Indore police. A zero FIR was registered and sent to Awadhpuri police staion in Bhopal.

"One girl of Dhar and two of Indore too have lodged complaints against Ashwani, who has been arested. A probe is on," Bhopal Inspector General of Police, Jaideep Prasad told IANS.

The victim from Dhar alleged that the accused raped her many times while she was staying at the hostel for nearly a year to train in stitching and embroidery.