A three-year-old girl was allegedly raped inside a school van in Navi Mumbai, with the vehicle’s driver arrested by police shortly after the child informed her family about the incident.
According to the sources, the alleged assault took place after school hours when the girl was being taken home. She was reportedly the last child to be dropped off and was alone inside the van when the driver allegedly committed the crime.
After reaching home, the child reportedly told her family that she was experiencing severe pain in her stomach and complained about the behaviour of the driver.
The family subsequently approached the police and reported the matter. Police acted promptly and arrested the school van driver in connection with the alleged offence.
The case has raised fresh concerns over the safety measures governing school transport, particularly the requirement for children to be accompanied by an attendant.
Under the prescribed safety norms for school transport, a female attendant is required to be present in a school bus when children are being transported.
Vehicles are also expected to have CCTV cameras and tracking systems so that parents can monitor the movement of the school vehicle.
The incident has brought renewed attention to whether such safeguards were in place in the vehicle involved and whether they were being properly implemented.
Police are investigating the allegations, and further details are awaited.
Source: News18