Bus attendant ‘molests’ 8 children of Thane school on a picnic, arrested
Police said the accused touched the Class 2 children, including girls and two boys, inappropriately while distributing food packets. The picnic was organised at a theme park in Ghatkopar.
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Parents protest against the administration of the private school after eight children were allegedly molested during a school picnic. (Express photo by Deepak Joshi)A 27-year-old bus attendant was arrested on Wednesday after he allegedly molested eight students of a Thane-based private school during a school picnic on Tuesday, police said.
According to police, the attendant Javed Mohammad Khan inappropriately touched the children of 7-8 age group while serving them food in the bus, which was heading to their picnic, organised at a theme park in Ghatkopar.
“The accused touched the eight children, including girls and two boys, in an inappropriate manner while he was distributing the food packets. All the children were students of Class 2. We have arrested him and we are taking him to the court,” said Sandeep Dhande, inspector of the police station, where the FIR has been registered.
The accused has been charged under the sections 354, 354(A) and 509 of the Indian Penal Code as well as relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. “The bus was owned by a private picnic organiser roped in by the school. Khan had been working with the agency for 10 years on daily wages,” the inspector added.
Speaking to The Indian Express, aggrieved parents of the children said that the matter came to light when one of the girls complained about the incident, which took place when three teachers were also present in the bus.
“After we found out about the girl’s complaint through the parents’ group, all of us spoke to our children and we found out that several children were touched inappropriately by the attendant… What were the teachers doing?” one of the parents questioned.
Another parent added, “When we tried to raise the matter with the principal and teachers, they dismissed our claims. But how can so many children, that too minors, lie about this incident. It was only after much pressure that the teachers apologised.”
Police said that further investigation is underway.
When contacted, the principal of the school told The Indian Express that three teachers who had accompanied the children to the picnic have been “terminated from service” pending inquiry and that the school has formed an internal inquiry committee, comprising all senior members of the management.
“Through the tour operator, we ensured that the culprit was produced in the police station last night itself and he was arrested…,” adding that their school has called off all the future excursions planned through the tour company.
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