Representative image showing a school van
Credit: iStock Photo
Mumbai: The Badlapur town near Mumbai was shaken once again following the incident of molestation of a four-year-old girl by a school van driver — an issue that once again raises the question of safety of children and the need for stringent background checks of people hired by school management.
Located around 80 kms away from downtown Mumbai, Badlapur is part of the Thane district, which was in news a couple of years ago for the incident involving a prominent school where two minor girls were sexually assaulted by a sweeper, who was later killed in an encounter during a scuffle with the police.
The fresh incident has come as a shocker even as the BJP-led Maha Yuti dispensation came under attack from the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi.
According to the police, the victim is a junior KG student of an English medium school located near her residence.
When she arrived late, the family asked her after which she narrated about the incident. The driver had molested her after dropping other students on the way to her house.
The school driver was arrested after the family filed a complaint with the police.
The school van was seized, and the driver has been booked under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
During the investigation, police discovered the van was operating with a private (non-yellow) license plate, violating Regional Transport Office (RTO) regulations that mandate yellow plates and T-permits for school transport vehicles.
Meanwhile, state Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik assured that strict action would be taken against the accused and ensure that such incidents do not recur.
“What has happened is a shameful act committed a driver in Badlapur. The police have arrested the accused. However, such incidents should not happen again. Therefore, the state government should take a strict stand,” said Sarnaik, who hails from Thane.
The case has raised serious questions about student safety, background verification of transport staff, and accountability within school management systems.
"While ferrying the school girl in the van, the driver touched her inappropriately. After receiving a complaint, Badlapur West police station registered a case under BNS and POCSO and arrested the driver,” Assistant Commissioner of Police Sailesh Kale said.
Necessary medical tests for the minor victim are being conducted.