3-yr-old girl molested at playschool, attendant held

A three-year-old girl was allegedly molested by an attendant of a playschool at Rohini in outer Delhi on Wednesday.

The accused, 22-year-old Amit Kumar, was arrested and sent to judicial custody, the police said on Thursday.According to the police, the incident took place when the girl was waiting for her father in a room of the playschool on Wednesday.

“After the father of the girl picked her up from the playschool, she narrated her ordeal to him. He then visited the local police station to file a complaint against the accused,” said a police officer.

A case was registered with Prashant Vihar police station after a medical examination of the girl was conducted at a nearby hospital. She also recalled the incident to a woman constable which is being considered as a statement.

Amit has been booked under section 354 (assault or criminal force on a woman with intent to outrage her modesty) of the Indian Penal Code and appropriate sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act.

Amit, who had been working in the playschool since last year, was arrested late on Wednesday and produced before a court on Thursday. He has been sent to Tihar Jail.

On Thursday, around 150 parents also held a protest outside the playschool on hearing about the molestation case. They were demanding to meet the principal of the school. The authorities informed police and a team was sent to the spot to manage the situation.

“The parents were agitated and were demanding that CCTV footage of the playschool be examined to verify if the accused had committed similar crimes in the past. Our investigation is on to ascertain if there are other victims,” the officer added.

At present, no evidence has surfaced which can determine if Amit was involved in similar incidents. Police will also examine the footage of CCTV cameras installed in the playschool. Meanwhile, the parents have also sent a letter to Rohini MLA Rajesh Garg, demanding him to ensure strict action against the accused.