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School gardener molests 7-year-old

She stops going to school after culprit threatens to stab her
Last Updated 22 December 2014, 21:47 IST

A seven-year-old girl was allegedly being molested by a gardener of a private school in central Delhi for the past few days. The 50-year-old accused was arrested soon after the matter was brought to police’s notice.

Police said the accused had threatened to stab her with a pair of scissors if she revealed the abuse to anyone.

Her parents grew suspicious when she refused to go to school. They questioned her, after which she narrated the entire incident to them.

The incident was reported from Ramjas School in Anand Parbat. The school has several branches in Delhi.

“Her parents approached us on Friday, after which we called police. It was the first time that either the girl or her parents brought the allegations of abuse to our notice,” school manager Divesh Gupta told Deccan Herald over phone.

Accused arrested

He said the accused gardener Shankar Lal had been employed at the school for the past 28 years.

He was suspended immediately after the matter was brought to the school’s notice, Gupta said.

The victim’s parents often arrived late to pick her up after classes.
Lal allegedly used that opportunity to molest her. He would take her near the bathrooms when she was alone and would molest her.

“It was after he threatened to stab her with scissors that she stopped going to school. Her parents initially did not think much of it, but soon realised that something was wrong. It was only when they asked specific questions that she revealed everything,” a senior police officer said.

Police said the victim’s statement was taken and an FIR was registered against Lal on Friday, following which he was arrested.

No other victim

Police said his interrogation does not suggest that he had victimised more girls.
The school administration said they have taken the incident seriously and have started working on improving any possible loophole.

“Installation of CCTV cameras was already in process and will be completed soon. We are working to prevent such incident again,” Gupta said.

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(Published 22 December 2014, 21:47 IST)

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