The police on Monday arrested a woman who worked as a peon at a school in South Mumbai for allegedly molesting a four-year-old girl student, The Hindu reported.
The incident took place a week ago, when the peon allegedly took the child to a bathroom and touched her inappropriately. Since then, the child had been reluctant to go to school, her parents said. After repeated inquiries, the child finally told her parents about the molestation, following which they took her to a hospital. A doctor confirmed that the child was sexually assaulted, according to Mid-Day.
The parents added that their child had become more aggressive of late and had also complained of stomach pain.
“We registered a complaint under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act,” Senior Police Inspector Avinash Shingte told The Hindu. “The accused was brought to the police station, and arrested after the [child] identified her.”
School authorities said they would assist the police with their investigation. The school principal said, “The peon has been suspended and we have requested the police to take any action that they deem necessary in the case.”
She added that the school follows a child protection code of conduct and all teaching and non-teaching staff are trained, according to Mid-Day. Meanwhile, as news of the incident spread, several parents did not send their children to the school on Monday.
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