Guard arrested by police.
By Dileep Thekkethil
BENGALURU: In a shocking incident, a 3-year-old girl was sexually assaulted by the security guard of her school here in Bengaluru, who was arrested by the police on Tuesday.
According to the police, the medical report of the girl suggests that she was sexually assaulted on Monday. The guard, Gautham (30), who originally hails from Kolkata, was identified by the girl and her sister, and was taken into custody.
There has been an increase in the number of child abuse cases reported from Bengaluru schools. Last year, a series of sexual assault cases were registered, causing widespread protests by parents and locals, demanding schools to take preventive measures so as to curb any such cases in the future. Due to the protest, the government directed schools to install CCTVs.
But in this case, the school officials have denied that the assault took place inside the school premise. They also said that the girl was seen ‘cheerful and active’ all day and was later picked up by her father at around noon.
Despite protests, the private school, which is more than 42 years old, was open today.
Jacintha Lobo, the chairperson of the Child Welfare Committee told NDTV that “As soon as the message came to us we rushed to the spot…we will be visiting the child also.”
Another parent who was protesting outside the school was quoted saying “If this happens in a school – it is so upsetting. Girls should be looked after properly.”
The guard has been working in the school for the last 4 years and his wife, who is an attendant, also works in the same school and has been living in Indira Nagar, which is near to the school premises.
The sister of the victim, who is also a student of the same school, said that Gautham used to call her sister, asking her to sit on his lap, made her hug him and often bought her chocolates.
The parents came to know about the assault when the girl complained of pain in her private parts at around 1 PM after returning from the school. She later described the horror to her mother who immediately rushed her to a private hospital in Bangalore where the doctors confirmed that she was sexually assaulted.
The hospital authorities informed the police, who rushed to the hospital and took the statement of the girl’s parents. A complaint was lodged under POCSO Act 2012 on Monday night.