The parents of a two-year-old boy studying at a playschool in Kolkata’s Behala locality have lodged a complaint with the police, suspecting that their son may have been sexually assaulted, The Times of India reported on Thursday. The incident may have occurred on Monday during a Doctors’ Day programme where students, teachers and other staff members played the roles of doctors and students.
“When my wife went to bring my child back from the playschool on Monday, he was extremely irritated and was crying, but did not say anything in particular,” said the child’s father. His mother saw blood coming out of the child’s rectum when she bathed him. When asked, the child said a “doctor” had fondled him at school. The parents immediately took him to a paediatrician, who suggested the child may have been sexually assaulted and asked them to talk to the school’s principal.
On Tuesday morning, the parents spoke to the principal, who denied that any such thing might have happened. “We asked her to show us the CCTV footage of the day and she said it would take two hours,” the child’s father said. “After two hours, she told us that due to some unknown reason there was no footage from June 27 to July 3.”
The child underwent a medical test at the Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital, where doctors suggested that he undergo examination at the SSKM Hospital to find out if he had been sexually assaulted.
“We strongly demand immediate action by police to identify the culprit for this heinous crime and further demand speedy punishment for the offender according to law,” said Anirban Guhathakurta, the boy’s lawyer.
The police have registered a First Information Report under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!