Class IV boy ‘sexually assaulted’ in school bus

Student tells police three seniors repeatedly abused him; accused rusticated

A 9-year-old Class IV student of a private school in Vivek Vihar was allegedly sexually assaulted by three seniors inside a school bus.

The victim told the police that he was sexually assaulted on three different days.

The school, however, said that when the victim’s parents approached the principal, they mentioned thrashing but not sexual assault.

The school’s chairman said they have rusticated the three senior students.

The victim, in his statement to the police, said that he boarded the school bus on July 27 around 1.45 p.m. to go home.

When he sat down, three seniors from Class VII, VIII and X called him to sit in the back of the bus. When the boy shifted to the seat, the Class X student allegedly touched him inappropriately after pulling down his pants. The boy managed to free himself and went back to his seat.

“I was scared so I did not say anything to anyone,” he told the police.

The boy told the police that on July 30, the three seniors forcibly took him to the back of the bus and the Class VIII student sexually assaulted him.

The accused also punched the victim and then sent him back to his seat. The boy allegedly went through the same ordeal at the hands of the Class VII student on August 1.

Had told teacher

After coming back home, he allegedly locked himself in his room. The victim’s mother told him to unlock the room and asked him about what happened.

After some persuasion, he narrated the incidents to his mother.

The victim claimed that he informed a teacher, who travels on the same bus, about the incident, but she allegedly replied: “You are so cute. Anyone would like to tease you.”

The statement of the boy was recorded in front of the victim’s sister on Monday and a case under relevant sections of the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences Act was registered.

Inquiry by school

Responding to the charges, the school’s chairman claimed that the victim’s parents approached the principal on Friday and told her that their child has been beaten up.

“They did not mention he was sexually harassed. They said if you take action against the three children then we will not go to the police,” he said.

The chairman said that after they were informed that the parents have alleged sexual assault, the school conducted an internal inquiry.

“Other 16 students who were present in the bus were questioned. They all denied any knowledge of sexual assault. They, however, admitted that there was a massive physical fight between the two sides over suspicion of theft,” he said.

The three boys were rusticated and the teacher was also given a show-cause notice to explain what happened. The teacher has maintained that there was a fight and she was not informed of sexual assault, the chairman said.

The victim’s sister alleged that the school is trying to hush up the matter.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Shahdara) Meghna Yadav said the matter is being investigated and the three students have not been apprehended so far.