Two school bus attendants were arrested on Sunday evening on the charge of molesting a three-year-old girl at her school here.
The incident took place on September 16, but a complaint was lodged with the police on Saturday.
The two accused, Shubha Kumar (24) and Sudhir (46), went into hiding after learning about the police complaint. However, they were arrested here on Sunday.
The police said the girl used to return to her Udupi home from school by 12.55 p.m. every day. But on September 16, she did not come home in time. Her worried parents enquired about her in the school.
Later, the girl was brought home by another bus attendant, Narayana.
When the girl’s mother, suspecting something amiss, enquired with her, the child told her that Shubha Kumar and Sudhir molested her.
A police officer said, “We have spoken to the girl and also the accused. There are different versions about the incident and we are yet to get a clear picture.”
The girl was sent for a medical examination at the Kasturba Hospital and the report is awaited.
Advisory planned
A top police official said on Sunday that the district police would soon hold a meeting with officials of the Transport Department and decide on issuing an advisory to all schools on precautions to be taken while picking up and dropping students to their respective destinations in school buses, school vans and other vehicles such as autorickshaws and taxis. “We will hold a meeting within the next two or three days,” he said.
Meanwhile, Udupi Rises for Justice Against Atrocities has demanded an impartial investigation into the case and stern action against the accused.
