BENGALURU: A private school employee was taken into custody on Tuesday for allegedly molesting a three-year-old girl.
The parents had filed a complaint on Monday, but police swung into action only after citizens protested outside the Indiranagar school on Tuesday.
The suspect is a 30-year-old security guard from West Bengal. He lives with his family in the school building, where he has been allotted a room. His wife also works in the school.
CCTV footage indicates the child left her classroom at 11.52 am. Her father picked her up from school at 12.02 pm.
Helen, a protester who attempted to rough up the police, was taken into custody.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Sateesh Kumar told Express, “The accused has confessed. We are now trying to gather substantial evidence. As of now, we have got the statements of the victim and her sister, who point at the accused. At a few places, the CCTV footage is blurred. We will also send the clothes of the victim and the accused to the forensic laboratory for further tests.” Assistant Commissioner of Police Venugopal concurred with the DCP.
The girl returned home at 12.30 pm, her mother told Express. “As soon as she saw me, she started to cry. When I asked her to change, she refused,” she explained.
When the mother undressed the child, she found her private parts swollen. “We rushed her to Bowring Hospital where the doctor confirmed she had been sexually assaulted,” she said.
On Tuesday morning, V Ramesh, Block Education Officer, visited the school and obtained the CCTV footage. “We are conducting an inquiry, and awaiting police and medical reports, which may take a couple of days,” he said.
Anil, secretary of the institution, told Express, “Ours is a 42-year-old institution and this is the first time such an incident has taken place. The guard had been working here for eight years.”
He said the school had done a background check before hiring the guard. “As far as we know, the incident has not occurred on our campus,” he said.
Principal Shirley said the school was covered by 25 CCTV cameras. “Three of our staff were around when the child was handed over to the father,” she said.
The father had walked into the campus to ask for details about an identity card the school had issued him.
“The guard was busy with routine work and at 12.35 pm, took another child to hospital for an epileptic seizure,” Shirley told Express.